Yes, I am sure this is true, solids apparently take more coordination on the part of the swallowing mechanism and would also become an real issue if there were strictures or scarring -- however our ENT has some patients several months out of treatment that can't swallow anything, not even their saliva, much less any liquid food -- she has sent them to swallowing therapy and they are making progress. Apparently they swallowed nothing for a while during radiation (not under her care at the time).

I will very interested to see what Barry's test shows -- I would not be surprised if he has some scarring, that area really got a lot a radiation.

Gail

My husband, Tim was one of those that was unable to swalllow his saliva during treatment and for 7 weeks after. They said it was due to severe candida and scarring from radiation. He had 2 dilations to correct a complete stricture - the latest was last week. He is now swallowing yogurt, pudding, soups and apple sauce, but still takes a few cans of Glucerna by feeding tube. He was given exercises by the speech pathologist. He was told that with hard work he will be able to eat solids again.

Cool, thanks for the info. My dad didn't swallow at all during treatment. Right when he was able he started up and is eating anything and everything-well, not ribs from Famous Daves-too hard to chew without molars!
So you don't think he'll have issues?
How is Tim anyway? Is he getting the neck dissection? My dad is getting it November 10. We are nervous-major surgery is scary.

Tim had his first CT scan post treatment on October 19 - he was 7 weeks out - and it was clear. So no, he won't be having a neck dissection. His swallowing continues to improve everyday. The exercises really work!

How did Tim's tonsil on the scan look? My dad's shrunk to half it's cancer size and the lymph node was clear.
They do the dissection if it's clear or not where we are. It is so interesting to see how different every where/one is.