Is this normal procedure?

msmorningstar
msmorningstar Member Posts: 5
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Hello, everyone. My husband has BOT (base of tongue) cancer and is in his 5th week of 7 weeks of radiation, 5 days a week.  He is doing fairly well - usual side effects - sore throat, no taste, fatigue, mucous, etc.  He sees the Radiation Oncology Dr. once a week after his radiation treatment. At this checkup, the Dr. always puts on a glove and proceeds to put his fingers down my husbands throat. Can anyone tell me if this is a normal procedure? After the last time, my husband was in a lot of pain and when he coughed there was blood in his mucous for 3 or 4 days.  My husband told the Dr. about this - but, the Dr. still proceeded to do it, again. and my husband refused.  This Dr. is supposed to be tops in this type of cancer - however, he is not very forthcoming and there isn't much discussion.  Thanks in advance for your responses.  Take Care.

Comments

  • SASH
    SASH Member Posts: 421 Member
    edited August 2017 #2
    Rubber Glove

    This was normal for my exams, rubber glove on and finger in mouth/down throat.  I even allowed some of his students to do this exam on me.  I warned them if they hurt, I bite.  He might want to use that line on the doctor next time.

    Once when my wife was with me and she met this doctor for the first time, when he put the glove on, I got up and started to unbuckle my belt and turned around for him.  He laughed and said he would do that exam after he did the oral one.

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,724 Member
    #3
    ahhh

    msmorningstar,

    Yes, it is normal to put on a glove before putting his finger down your husband’s throat, but seriously, yes it can be normal.  There may be something he wants to palpitate to judge its condition along the way.  I doubt there is anything nefarious about the procedure.  My rad onc looked weekly, but the one thing I remember her saying was, “your mouth is ablaze, doesn’t it hurt”.

    If  he is tops, you are probably in the best of hands (or fingers).  A slight bit of bleeding could be expected, a lot would draw my concern.

    You are close to the finish line, hang in there!

    Matt

  • OKCnative
    OKCnative Member Posts: 326 Member
    #4
    I'm only on week two of my 7

    I'm only on week two of my 7 weeks of radiation and I also meet with my radiation doc weekly (it's an insurance requirement for most patients). My radiation doc has never put his finger down my throat. My ENT did, very early on, and my oncologist did during my very first visit. My radiation doc has told me that my treatment plan is a good one and in place and there is no need to micromanage it. At the end he will determine what has shrunk and what hasn't. He also tells me he isn't going to intentionally do anything to me to cause me discomfort, beyond the radiation treatment itself. He doesn't even push on my swollen node unless he asks first if i mind. I don't have much of a gag reflex, and my throat is yet to be sore - so, I'd allow him to probe if he asked.

    However, once is becomes intolerable I would personally insist that he not. But, that's me. I tend to speak up and I'm stubborn. I wouldn't even let them start my treatment the week they wanted to because my throat was still sore from the biopsy and I knew if i started treatment it wouldn't heal and would be an unnecessary irritant. So, they waited another week.


  • msmorningstar
    msmorningstar Member Posts: 5
    edited August 2017 #5
    SASH, CivilMatt - Thank You

    SASH, CivilMatt - Thank You for your responses and your humor! Definitely need some humor going through this cancer. I didn't think there was anything nefarious about the procedure - just, you know - Dr.s are all different.  We will definitely let the Dr. continue with this - maybe, ask him to be a little gentler. :-) Thanks, again - and Best Wishes to you Both :-)

  • msmorningstar
    msmorningstar Member Posts: 5
    edited August 2017 #6
    OKCnative - Thank You for

    OKCnative - Thank You for your response.  You sound so much like myself. :-) I learned a long time ago it's your body, you know it best and Dr.s are not always right! My own PCP shakes his head - looks info up on his computer when I tell him about something I have read - and "asks" me if he can give me any certain medicine.  Sometimes, we have to be our own DR. Exactly the reason I asked my question on this forum.  Kudos to you for waiting a week to begin your radiation - I believe you made a very wise decision.  I am with your radiation Dr. and feel there shouldn't be a need to cause more discomfort/pain than what is already there.  I guess we will proceed with caution and if the next throat exam hurts/bleeds we will definitely tell the DR. no more.  Only 2 weeks from this Friday left - so we are almost there.  Again, thank you for your response and perspe tive - it is appeciated.  I wish you the Best in your journey.  Good Luck and Take Care!

  • AnotherSurvivor
    AnotherSurvivor Member Posts: 384 Member
    edited August 2017 #7
    I think "it depends".  Mine

    I think "it depends".  Mine was MD Anderson trained, and he liked doing the finger thing.   He still has all his fingers, tho the was a time in week six when that came close to not being true.   I can actually handle the finger thing better than the scope, it always left nose sores.  We discussed the irony of all that while also doing a weekly partial CT scan, but he still liked the finger.  Perhaps Texans do it as part of some ritual greeting?

  • msmorningstar
    msmorningstar Member Posts: 5
    #8
    LOL! Thanks AnotherSurvivor!

    LOL! Thanks AnotherSurvivor! You are right - I am seeing that it all depends on the Dr. And yes the "scope" is definitely not "fun" either - although, they did numb his nose and throat for that! I appreciate you taking the time to respond! Best of Luck to you! Take Care!

  • tommyodavey
    tommyodavey Member Posts: 728 Member
    #9
    Rads VS Surgery

    My guess is it's normal.  I had BOT cancer but the tumor was removed via surgery.  He stuck his hand down my throat once before the surgery and then about six months afterwards.  Thought I was going to pull the handles off the chair!  But in the case of only using radiation, the doctor needs to know how much it's shrunk.  And the only way to do that is to stick his hand down the throat.  It makes me flinch to even think about it.

    That's my 2¢ for what it's worth.

  • SuzJ
    SuzJ Member Posts: 446 Member
    edited August 2017 #10
    Mine does

    I'm not sure, I think I bit him... it was unexpected, he said, this moght hurt, I'll do it fast.... aghhhhhhh... lol

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