Hello,
I am writing for my husband who has completed his radiation treatment for tonsil cancer on Dec. 3, 2004. He is hungry and yet when food gets in his mouth, there is still not enough (none) saliva to allow him to swallow. How long will this last? He had IMRT rather than conventional radiation to save his salivary gland so we believe that saliva will come back. Also when he does get to swallow, his throat still burns which will then restrict him from trying to eat again. Any suggestions? I would appreciate any real information.
Thanks,
Kathryn

Hello Kweed

The sore throat and dry mouth will make feeding by mouth difficult. He should be taking high nutrient liquid foods until he can swallow comfortably. Speak to his doctor about this problem. The patient stories will have pointers on how others coped. Ralph's website about his tonsil cancer and Pauline's story about her radiotherapy and how she managed will be of help.

I am sure the other members will offer some advice soon. Take care.

Best wishes
Vinod

Hi Kweed, i finished radio 24/12/04 and was surprised how long it takes before eating possible again. My throat was very sore and very little saliva making eating impossible, but persevere gradually you will find things you can swallow and each week gets easier. Try with very wet foods loads of gravy, runny scrambled eggs and spaghetti hoops! to begin with avoid salty foods or very acidic like tomato soup as they bl---y hurt!!
Good luck, try something different every couple of days, hope you have a bit of an appetite as this helps a lot.
sue

Hi Kweed
I finished my radiotherapy on 13th December 2004. Now 17th April 2005 it's just 4 months since that horrid time. But I am one of the lucky ones. I had tonsil cancer to and I know what your husband is going through. I had 33 sessions of Radiotherapy and 6 sessions of Chemo, with radical neck dissection and tonsil removal. What a hoot.
I now enjoy, yes enjoy, fillet steak, fried breakfasts, beer the occasional glass of white and red wine. Starchy foods like rice, bread, pasta and biscuits are difficult but I have even managed a few sandwiches. I am now taking 'Salagen tablets' (pilocarpine). They have not as yet made any difference to my saliva production as it can take 3 months. But I am getting on with food. My taste buds are improving and I think that helps when you eat, having little saliva is a pain but no taste is a nightmare. All I can say is T I M E...it all takes time, and trust me I am the most impatient person in the world. Take each day as it comes and reward yourself every time you manage something new to eat. Good luck. Remember how bad you felt on December 3rd 2004. AND LOOK AT YOU NOW.
Regards James Bagnell

Hello, the no spit is a real drag, as I walk around London, I see people spitting all over- well I have gone from drinking 2 litres of water per night, to one glass, this has taken well over a year, taste is slowly coming back, unable to eat spicy food, bread, or sweet things as my teeth ache. James thanks for the info on the Salagen Tables, these have not been suggested to me.
I have put doble cream on almost everything, so it slides down, and have lived in rice pudding and porridge, Wine is like battery acid. Dare I ask are any of you smokers ? I have never smoked and only drunk wine with food; so I am ever curious re the Tonsil Cancers ?????

garance asked
>Dare I ask are any of you smokers ?

My treatment team quizzed me closely about smoking, which I haven't since student days in the 60s. It seems that the particular tumor I produced is reliably linked to smoking and strong alcohol abuse.

I enjoy a glass or more of wine, but I haven't drunk spirits (whisky, vodka etc) in thirty years. The last time I drank a half bottle of whisky was my 21st birthday, which led to me boarding a streetcar and driving it away with all my party guests, having first removed all my clothes.

This incident led to the memorable inquiry from a police officer some distance down the track: "Is this your streetcar?", followed by the decision that seeing none of them could drive it, and I could, I had better take it back where I got it at the Hataitai terminus outside my flat. Only in New Zealand...

Eventually my treatment eam concluded that it was most likely the tumor was prompted by passive smoking - for five years many of my work colleagues in Berlin smoked in the office, before we rose up and demanded smoke-free workplaces.

But it's all balance of probabilities. Yes smoking is always harmful, and makes you smell bad even when someone else is doing the smoking, but I can't say 100 percent that's what brought the cancer. Maybe the Trolley Gods decided to punish me for misdeeds when younger...

Philip
in the Bay of Islands

I used to smoke, and drink. Obviously there are connections with smoking and drinking with head and neck cancers, however it is not always there cause. My parents had cancer neither smoked nor drank in an excess. I sometimes think that those that did smoke and gave up from say 30-40 a day to zero, had more risk of getting cancer. Why? (And this is my own opinion) because your body becomes immune or used to smoke, if you stop suddenly it shocks the system. After all you don't start smoking by having 40 a day do you? I am sure you feel aggrieved that you never smoked and contracted head and neck cancer. Myself, well I knew the risk like we all do. Drugs are powerful and it does take immense will power to stop, or a tragic illness. All the best, James Bagnell

Hi Phillip, no I have never smoked, I have always been a pain in the Bum, re smoking, have never gone to smoky places, or allowed smoking in my house as it always gave me a terrible headache and a nose that ran like a tap; re drink, only good wine with food, so when Mr Clark told me classic cancer of the heavy smoker and drinker, I really don't know what to think.
I look after a naughty springer who belongs to a New zealander, he is from the north island, he has land over there and a yacht, he wants to go back but can't seem to get out of London, you sort of get jammed in here; I want to go back to the west coast of France, boats, oysters and loads of fish, at least all that goes down the throat with ease. Big Bear Hugs to all you guys, and keep writing, us all your news

I smoked and drank like a trouper so I guess I deserve all I got! Whats more altho no longer drinking cos it hurts too much I am still smoking. I know I must be the most stupid person on the planet but then someone has to be!

Hi Sue none of deserve having these sort of health problems,no matter what we did prior, life is just not fair. Look at the fingers on your hand, we are all different, we come in all sizes and shapes.
I think it's how we cope with pain and general discomfort, when the general public are stuffing their faces, and haven't got a clue, what life is like when you cannot eat, pleasure becomes pain, and this is very hard for some people to cope with, when they are on their own. Big Bear Hugs to all you out there.