Radiation & difficulty swallowing?
 

Has anyone had difficulty swallowing immediately following a radiation treatment? I've had two treatments and both times I have had difficulty swallowing for a few hours afterward. The first time I thought it was my imagination, stress, whatever. The second time it happened it made me think maybe there was something to it. I go for my third treatment on Monday and I will mention it to the technicians but I wanted to see if anyone else has had it happen. It could be all in my head.

Re: Radiation & difficulty swallowing?
 

Hi! I never had swallowing issues with radiation but I seem to recall it being a possibility. I think it can also cause GERD that can have swallowing issues too. You should mention it regardless. I recently had cyberknife for brain and shortly after had major tooth sensitivity. Dr. said he didn't see how it could be from rads since very few mild rays went through those areas. My teeth are gradually getting better and no one can convince me it wasn't the rads that caused it. So if they say no, check to make sure it's not something else but trust yourself too.

Re: Radiation & difficulty swallowing?
 

Hello,

I have not had problems with swallowing although I have had shortness of breath and a mild cough which started within a week of starting radiation (Oct 17). I spoke to the doc about it and he explained that it was because the radiation to my right breast is hitting an edge of a lung. They plan it so that the radiation covers the entire breast plus a margin, and reaches into the chest wall. I think he said something about need to adjust for breathing which is why it intersects with an edge of the lung. Maybe I should try to not breath during the actual radiation time!

Nobody ever mentioned that this could happen which is really kind of annoying. It's like all this treatment is just "ho hum, whatever.....yawn" to most of the various specialists I see. I've been feeling very grumbly about that recently. (Especially when I end up waiting an hour beyond my appt time for rads.)

I wonder if your radiation treatments are hitting part of your throat/esophagus? It seems like that could be a possibility, especially if your radiation plan includes both breasts. Your doc should be able to tell you right away, although the techs might not know (mine didn't).

I have finished 7 treatments so far; because of the shortness of breath I'm worried about going a full 6 weeks. I'm also feeling less energetic. Not that I had that much energy to begin with!

Using emu oil and Aquaphor on the radiated area and hoping it helps with any eventual irritation. A nearby farmers market sells the refined emu oil that is supposed to be good. We'll see.

Take care. I hope the swallowing issue improves!

Re: Radiation & difficulty swallowing?
 

Hey Maine,

I went through a period that I had difficulty swallowing. I would start to swallow, and nothing happened---like I forgot how to swallow. I had to calmly talk myself through it reminding my body how to swallow. It was hard not to become panicked and choke. At the time, I thought it was the Herceptin. I don't remember if I was taking radiation at that same point or not.

Re: Radiation & difficulty swallowing?
 

Hello,
I had a severe burning sensation - gerd like thing while on radiation and in fact thought I'd have to quit but I swallowed some Maalox liquid that my husband had in the house since he gets gerd and that helped me. After that I kept it by my bed. The radiologist did give me some anti gerd like liquid to take.
Hope they clear up your problem.
take care
sarah

Re: Radiation & difficulty swallowing?
 

Hello. I am sorry you have this problem. It is not in your head. It happened to me but not right away. I was more than half way through my 24 radiations. It was because I had radiaion on the parasternal lymph nodes and the esophagus is right there. You should talk to your radiologist and see if he can give you something. When I asked, there was nothing to do except take medication for GERD but that was seven years ago so maybe they can do better now. The good news is that after the radiations it got better really fast. Michka