Contact details Reference No: PIL/CG/0486 How to contact us Version: 1

Speech and Language Therapy Central Appointments Bureau Departments Office hours: Speech & Language Monday-Friday 9am - 4.30pm Therapy Bishop Auckland General Hospital

University Hospital of North Durham Cockton Hill Road Bishop Auckland Telephone: 0191 3332591 County Durham DL14 6AD Darlington Memorial Hospital Tel: 01388 455200 Telephone: 01325 743152 Swallowing problems in Head & Neck Cancer www.cddft.nhs.net

Let us know your thoughts, www.patient.experience.cddft.nhs.uk

Information Leaflet

Date Published: May 2017 Date of Review: May 2020 Responsibility: Speech & Language Therapy

Causes of swallowing problems o Long-term effects include fibrosis  If you experience pain on swallowing, (dysphagia) (hardening / scarring / tightening take pain-killers at least ½ hour before of the muscles involved in you attempt to eat. swallowing). This in turn can lead  If swallowing becomes too difficult, see if Difficulties in swallowing can be caused by: to reduction in the range of you can drink instead. Water is best. movement of the muscles  The cancer itself. The tumour can be involved in swallowing. As a  Try eating small amounts of pureed / pressing on organs which are vital for result, your swallow can become blended down food e.g. soups, yoghurts, swallowing e.g. a tumour on the tongue inefficient i.e. eating becomes mousses etc. to begin with. can hinder the tongue movements in prolonged, you may have to use clearing and moving food from the front multiple liquid washes to get food to the back of the mouth. Tumours in the down and your swallow may  Use liquid washes if needed to clear food throat can cause pain on swallowing. become unsafe (i.e. food and in your throat. liquid going down the wrong way).  The side effects of treatment, includes: Fibrosis can also cause you to  Mash up your food in the initial stages lose sensation in the throat so you post-treatment; concentrate only on very soft foods which does not require a lot of Xerostomia – hinders chewing of may not cough even when food o chewing. food; a reduction in saliva can and drink are going down the make it difficult to masticate and wrong way. break down food in the mouth. In  Always maintain oral hygiene. addition it can make movement of Surgical treatment can alter the food from the front and back of the o anatomy of the mouth and throat Monitor for these signs of food and drink mouth difficult. and this can indirectly alter the going down the wrong way: way the muscles work in o Reduction in taste, appetite loss, swallowing e.g. removing part of  Coughing and / or choking after eating mucositis (pain and inflammation your throat muscles because of a and drinking. in the throat) can worsen cancerous growth and replacing swallowing problems. part of your throat with a flap from  Recurrent chest infections. your thigh for example means that the flap will not function in the o Swelling of the throat base and same efficient way as the part that  Temperature spikes after having structures of the voice box can resumed oral intake for a while. make food and drink go down the is removed. As a result food can wrong way and / or it can prolong get stuck in your throat. the act of swallowing e.g. you may  Gurgly or wet voice especially after find that you may have to do an Managing swallowing difficulties swallowing diet or fluids. abnormal number of swallows to get a small amount of food down.  Significant weight loss over a short period of time.

Seek advice from the speech and language therapist if any of the above signs occur / if you have a sensation of food getting stuck in your throat / if drinks come down your nose.