Cancer, please help with throat radiation re-hab patient

please help with throat radiation re-hab patient

Author	Message
David N. Harris #1 / 4	please help with throat radiation re-hab patient I have a friend who had cancer in his throat. He was treated with chemo, and then radiation. The cancer is gone, but the radiation caused damage to his throat. He has been unable to eat for quite a few months, even though the treatment ended several months ago. He has been fed with an i.v., and the way I understand it is the sugar (?) in the i.v. has caused a thrush (?) to develop on his tongue. Natural tubes in his throat have swollen. The way I understand it, a tube down was put down his throat to open it up, because his esophagus was greatly swollen. Water is the only thing he appears to feel confident swallowing lately, and often that comes back out of his nostrils. From my perspective that's a physical limitation, and also a reason that he avoids trying to eat. But he does want to eat, since that is the only way he can return to a normal life. He considers the possibility that his inability to begin eating may be partly in his mind, since he has gone so long without eating. Is this a common type of thing? Is some type of eating re-hab available if it is? Thank you for any help! David
Sat, 02 Nov 2002 03:00:00 GMT

Paul Rod #2 / 4	please help with throat radiation re-hab patient His physicians should consider use of a PEG tube -- a tube surgically inserted into the stomach to allow a more complete diet without complications such as thrush DISCLAIMER: Please read the following disclaimer. Reading any part of my message indicates acceptance of the following: Please note that all contents of this message, including any advice, suggestions, and/or recommendations has NOT been generated as part of any professional evaluation. No patient has been examined prior to making these comments; no professional fee has been charged by or paid to myself. The reader is advised to discuss these comments with his/her personal physicians and to only act upon the advice of his/her personal physician. Note that in answering an electronically posted question, I am NOT creating a physician -- patient relationship. Medical recommendations & advise can only be generated after a complete (in person) physical examination and review of the patients history. As I can not control the media, I can not take responsibility for any breaches of confidentiality that may occur in responding to any electronic question. Finally, the material produced by myself may be reproduced for personal use, provided that appropriate credit is given; but this material may not otherwise be reprinted or reproduced in any format for any other purpose. Paul I. Roda, M.D., F.A.C.P http://www.DoctorsOffice.org/DrRoda.htm Helpful links: www.cancernet.nci.nih.gov www.alphacancer.com www.cancerfacts.com
Sun, 03 Nov 2002 03:00:00 GMT

bb #3 / 4	please help with throat radiation re-hab patient Quote: > I have a friend who had cancer in his throat. He was treated with > chemo, and then radiation. The cancer is gone, but the radiation > caused damage to his throat. He has been unable to eat for > quite a few months, even though the treatment ended several > months ago. He has been fed with an i.v., and the way I understand > it is the sugar (?) in the i.v. has caused a thrush (?) to develop on > his tongue. Natural tubes in his throat have swollen. The way I > understand it, a tube down was put down his throat to open it up, > because his esophagus was greatly swollen. > Water is the only thing he appears to feel confident swallowing > lately, and often that comes back out of his nostrils. From my > perspective that's a physical limitation, and also a reason that he > avoids trying to eat. But he does want to eat, since that is the > only way he can return to a normal life. He considers the possibility > that his inability to begin eating may be partly in his mind, since he > has gone so long without eating. Is this a common type of thing? > Is some type of eating re-hab available if it is? Your friend's instinct is correct, its not uncommon when people have gone too long without swallowing solids . In Austria logopaedists have the task of teaching these patients to swallow again, may be different where you live. They also show them the tricks of swallowing fluids and not {filter}/regurgitating or aspirating them. If the swelling has been treated with NSAIDs and or steroids it should be over by now. A little worring was your comment about them 'putting a tube down his throat to open it up'. If this means he received a stent it could be an indication that cancer is still present.. I hope his radiooncolgists have been frank with him about the results they achieved, they usually are... JN
Sun, 03 Nov 2002 03:00:00 GMT

Jeff #4 / 4	please help with throat radiation re-hab patient I had head and neck cancer and could not eat for five months. My surgeon recommended that I get a PEG tube inserted in my stomach so that I could feed myself. In that way I was able to get enough proteins and sugar using osmolite. When I was finally able to eat, I continued the tube feeding until I was able to take enough calories through the mouth. Good luck. Quote: > I have a friend who had cancer in his throat. He was treated with > chemo, and then radiation. The cancer is gone, but the radiation > caused damage to his throat. He has been unable to eat for > quite a few months, even though the treatment ended several > months ago. He has been fed with an i.v., and the way I understand > it is the sugar (?) in the i.v. has caused a thrush (?) to develop on > his tongue. Natural tubes in his throat have swollen. The way I > understand it, a tube down was put down his throat to open it up, > because his esophagus was greatly swollen. > Water is the only thing he appears to feel confident swallowing > lately, and often that comes back out of his nostrils. From my > perspective that's a physical limitation, and also a reason that he > avoids trying to eat. But he does want to eat, since that is the > only way he can return to a normal life. He considers the possibility > that his inability to begin eating may be partly in his mind, since he > has gone so long without eating. Is this a common type of thing? > Is some type of eating re-hab available if it is? > Thank you for any help! > David
Fri, 08 Nov 2002 03:00:00 GMT

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