Your husband�s airways might be scarred & damaged from surgery or radiotherapy.(depending where the radiotherapy was aimed) The after effects of those treatments can cause breathing and swallowing issues. Scarred airways also create concerns for anesthetists when planning future surgeries. I sleep with my head elevated. Sleeping elevated helps with breathing and swelling after surgery and/or radiotherapy treatments.

Karen


46 yrs:
Apr 07-SCC 80% entire tongue removed,T4N1M0
Neck/D,Jaw Split, Trache 2 ops,PEG 3.5yrs
30 x rad,6 x Cisplatin,
30 x HBO
Apr'08- flap Recon + ORN Mandibulectomy
(hip bone to reconstruct jaw)
Oct'08 1 Plate out-jaw
Mar'09 Debulk flap
Sep'09/Jan&Nov'10/Feb&Jun'11/Jan&Jul'12/Oct'13/April'14-More surgery