All,
My father is cancer free for past 6 months. He completed his stage 4 throat (hypopharyngeal cancer) treatment 6 months ago, which included 3 rounds of neo-adjunct chemotherapy followed by chemo-radiation (33 radiations). After radiation, he is aspirating when he tries to take in liquid and solid food by mouth. He is primarily being fed using PEG tube. He can have only pureed food by mouth without aspiration. Other side effects of radiation such as mucositis have subsided. We have gotten his swallow study done but doctors didn't provide good guidance on how to make his swallowing better. He is doing basic swallowing exercises daily now. Does any of you have any recommendation on if dilation can improve his swallowing considering the fact that aspiration is mostly with liquids or swallow therapy is the only option we have? Is vitalstim therapy safe and recommended for cancer patients?
He complains about having, at times, a slight burning sensation or very tiny pain while swallowing. Also, he has to spit out secretions in his throat every 1-2 hours, he wakes up to spit out 2-3 times during the night - is this something because he is unable to swallow his saliva? or these secretions are different?
Thank you all and you have a good day.
Last edited by ChristineB; 08-26-2016 03:58 PM. Reason: removed religion from post
