Swallowing Problems From Head and Neck Cancer Treatment

What Problems Can Head And Neck Cancer Treatment Cause For Swallowing?

Treatment for head and neck cancer can cause swallowing problems, called dysphagia. Head and neck cancer includes laryngeal cancer (throat cancer) and oral cancer (mouth cancer). How much trouble you may have depends on:

• the type of cancer
• the kind of surgery you may need
• other treatments that you might receive, such as radiation or chemotherapy

What Are Signs Of Swallowing Problems After Head And Neck Cancer Treatment?

You may have the following swallowing problems after treatment for head and neck cancer:

• needing to swallow many times to clear food from your mouth and throat
• wet or “gurgly” voice after swallowing
• coughing or choking while eating or drinking
• clearing your throat while eating or drinking
• pain when swallowing
• dry mouth or throat
• trouble opening your mouth

What Are Causes Of Swallowing Problems After Head And Neck Cancer Treatment?

You may need surgery to treat cancer in your mouth, throat, or larynx (voice box). You may also need radiation therapy before or after surgery. Each of these treatments can cause swallowing problems. Depending on your treatment, you may experience some of the following.

Oral (mouth) surgery can cause:

• food or drinks to spill out of your mouth
• trouble chewing
• difficulty controlling food and liquid in your mouth

Throat surgery can present different challenges:

• It may be hard for food and liquid to move from your mouth to your esophagus (the tube that moves food or liquid from the back of your throat to your stomach).
• It may cause aspiration, when food or liquid enters your airway instead of into your esophagus. Aspiration may lead to pneumonia.
• It may feel like food gets stuck in your throat or moves more slowly.

After a laryngectomy, a surgery to remove part or all of your larynx (voice box), it may be harder to start your swallow and/or push foods or liquids down to the esophagus.

You may experience the following after radiation therapy:

• sore mouth or throat
• pain during eating
• dry mouth or less saliva
• difficulty moving your mouth, tongue, or throat
• difficulty chewing and moving food from your mouth and throat
• difficulty opening your mouth wide

What Does Testing for Swallowing Problems After Head and Neck Cancer Treatment Look Like? 

You may see an SLP before you have surgery or radiation. The SLP can talk to you about changes you may have swallowing and give you swallowing exercises. After surgery or radiation, the SLP will test your swallowing skills and discuss any changes you’ve noticed with your eating and drinking. They might suggest softer foods or thicker liquids that are safer and easier for you. 

Your doctor may recommend that you use a feeding tube while you heal if  

• you are not able to eat and drink enough by mouth
• food or drinks are going into your lungs (called aspiration)

You and your doctor can talk about what options are best for you.

How Are Swallowing Problems Related To Head And Neck Cancer Treated?

Your doctor may recommend that you use a feeding tube while you heal if:

• you cannot eat and drink enough by mouth.
• food or drinks are going into your lungs (called aspiration)

An SLP can support you after surgery or treatment for head or neck cancer and will work with you on chewing and swallowing. They may suggest:

• treatment to help you use your muscles to chew and swallow
• ways you should sit or hold your head when you eat or drink
• strategies to help you swallow better and more safely
• eating softer foods or drinking thicker drinks to help you swallow

To find an SLP or audiologist near you, visit ProFind.

Resources

Inclusion on this list does not imply endorsement

• American Cancer Society
• Board-Recognized Specialists in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders
• ENTnet.org
• National Cancer Institute