I am on my 19th radiation treatment and I seemed to develop a lump in my throat. It is very hard for me to swallow. There is also mucous that had developed and it makes me sick. I cannot seem to keep and of my liquid nutrition down . Is this a normal side effect? If so then I am very scared that I will totally loose my ability to swallow. I might have to ask for time off or something because it's so bad. I am halfway done with radiation and chemo but it seems like I will not get through it. I don't want to give up, but I also don't want to loose the ability to swallow. Thank you.

Hi Theresa,

I'm sorry that you have to go through this, but yes, severe nausea (to the point that you describe) is a very common side effect of Cisplatin, and from your sig, the fact that you are getting 6 doses with your rads indicate that your chemo is that.

Getting some time off in the middle of your radiation is not that uncommon either. Discuss this with your RO and he will probably give you some.

I would mention your swallowing difficulty and your mucus issue at that time; and if you don't have an appointment in the near future, contact him for one ASAP.

I know that there are therapies for maintaining your swallowing ability while undergoing what you are experiencing, I just don't know what they are. Perhaps some member who has experienced it can help.

Best of luck to you, you are going to beat this, even if you don't enjoy the experience!

Bart

You need to keep that mucus out. If there is much volume, ask your doctor for a suction machine. It is dead cells sloughing off and the body wants it out. It can make your digestive system go awry.

The lump is fairly common depending in where the radiation is targeted and the type. Some people actually end up with the trachea going from straight to an "s" shape. Ask to see an SLP, speech language pathologist to help you retrain your swallow as things progress. The "lump" can also be from muscle weakened but regardless, you need help to maintain your swallow. Even if it is tough, don't give up.

Try to not worry about what is around the corner. If you anticipate bad, the boogey man will cometh. Even tension can make swallowing muscles tighter and harder to work.

Even if you were to stop treatment, the problem won't go away for a while and you risk the cancer not being killed. You can do this.

Besides a suction machine, you can get your mouth sprayed everyday by your radiation center to get the gunk, mucus out. The usual rinsing, brushing, drinking water will helps too, and seltzer water rinses, papaya or pineawple juice helps break up the mucus as does other measures to reduce mucus like mucinex, robotusem, and they have yellow and green sponge sticks to get the mucus out from the back area of the mouth if it accumulates there. If swallowing becomes extremity difficult, even by just protein drinks, not compromising breathing, they can put a peg or nasal tube in. I think it's uncommon to stop radiation, chemo yes, and more often due to toxicities, but not as often with radiation, and for everyday of radiation missed is like a 1.7 day loss of survival for each day due to cancer regeneration, and you will have to make the days up, if they can be made up cancer wise. Radiation should be completed through the alloted time, unless unavoidable. There are pain meds, antiinflammatories, others to help you get through this. There can be other reasons for vomiting, nausea, dehydration, constipation, even lying down too soon after eating, raising too quickly. In any case, tell your doctor(s) of your difficulty, and see what they say. Good luck.

Thank you. I will talk to my doctor tomorrow about it. It just makes me nervous. I appreciate the help!