I am very blessed to have survived Stage IV..,base of tongue - primary cancer now for 10 years...life is great at 60!...I have noticed a continued hoarseness that has almost always been there in the morning with degress/variation during the day or night, probably depending on how dry I am or eating hot/spicy food...but it seems like it is getting increasingly worse this year. Is it possible that the radiation effects stiffens the vocal cords over the years?

Congratulations Weldon on being a long term BOT survivor! I have read there can be late stage effects from radiation even 20-25 years later. Could be a number of other issues, and a regular visit to the ENT might be worthwhile. Good luck, and happy holidays.

I agree with Paul. I suggest you make an appointment with your ENT to have a look and answer your questions.
Merry Christmas,
Tammy

Weldon, when in doubt it never hurts to pay the doc a visit and get checked out. Hope it turns out to be nothing serious!!!

Thanks..I do have an appointment to see my ENT the first week in Jan...Very interested if anyone has any experience/knowledge of the stiffening/horseness effects of radiated vocal cord tissue long term. It may be a "who knows" kind of question given the damage radiation does and individual response/healing. I am told the tissue never gets better.