It has been 6 1/2 years from end of treatment and still cancer free (YEAH!), but during that time I have had 3 Hiemlich moves from co-workers and husband to stop choking episodes and numerous other episodes that I managed to get through without their help but scaring us all to death. The doc is now considering a balloon procedure to enlarge my throat and break up the scare tissue that seems to be encroaching the space. Has anyone had the procedure done lately? Ran a search but maybe I was in the wrong section. Thanks! - Kris

Hi Kris search the word "dilation" and you will get quite a few hits.

Kris, look into self-Heimlich, where you use your own fists, back of chair, etc., to DIY -- Or should that be Auto-Heimlich.

http://healthguide.howstuffworks.com/heimlich-maneuver-on-self-dictionary.htm

BTW, my son took the very comprehensive Wilderness First Responder course (He takes inner-city kids on controlled canoe trips in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in Minnesota in Summer and wanted to have the skills) and was informed that Heimlich is trademarked or something, so there is likely a generic name for it.

I was looking into the throat dilation because I was having more difficulty swallowing, not less, but bottom line was that it was my latest "stealth" tumor causing the problem, so be sure you are also getting a good look at the area by your Docs -- Being down the throat, it is harder to see and feel than up in the mouth region.

BTW, there's more to staging than meets the eye -- It has several variables including tumor size and spread to lymph nodes, etc., so it is not necessarily a "Fatality Index" -- A large, slow growing, strongly differentiating tumor might have a high T number but actually be less dangerous than a small, aggressive tumor with no differentiation and on the edge of metastasizing to other systems like lymph or nerves.

Here's more info on staging for Oral Cancer:

http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/facts/stages_cancer.htm

Thanks Mark, I shall give that a try. And good to see you! It has been a long time since Las Vegas! - Kris

Please post more info on this. Im interested in knowing if the ballon is something new or the same thing as a regular throat dialation procedure.

Nothing new, just one way they do dilation -- There may be others.

SWEET that is the same Kris!

I have been on a sabbatical. I am happy that Hiemlich manoevers are working for you


Pete, the Boundry Waters Area is my back yard!

My son enjoys taking these small groups of kids into the BWCA -- The group size is limited by the park and they usually have both camping and social counselors (being a Special Ed teacher who camps makes him doubly valuable, although the counselors are usually ones who already know the kids in question -- He's from Chicago, but the kids are often from Minnesota).

The organization arranging for the trips usually does them as backpacking trips, but are now using the BWCA for close-by cities, and has a whole series of training setups for the adult participants, plus they have a sat phone along just in case (This is why he got the WFR first aid training, so he'd be useful in an emergency).

Kris,

The dilation is something I have had to do 3 times. Due to the build up of scare tissues. It really helps.!!! worth the trouble of going through.. You are in and out same day.

Don't run the risk of choking to death... get it done!

Take care.. Diane