 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | That is a very common (like 99%) side effect of the radiation and it too will pass in a few weeks. Mine was bad but not as bad as others and some rented a portable suction machine and have advised others since then to do the same when it gets to the point that you are describing.
Re the PEG and not swallowing....the swallowing muscles can quickly loose their memory on how to swallow in a matter of days so please encourage him to swallow something everyday. Doing this may avoid a lifetime of swallowing problems post Tx.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
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