Difficulty swallowing, a radiation side efffect?

I had alot of trouble swallowing during rads--it started about the 3rd week and got so bad it was really difficult to eat.  I also had some gastric reflux problems.  They gave me some prilosec and some sort of anestetic type stuff to drink before I ate--that was disgusting-- They did say it was unusual but that it does happen during rads.  She did move the field abit--or at least said she did and eventually it went way after about 2 weeks.  Funny tho--I did show up with thyroid problems about 5 months later....hmmm..all the docs said they didn't do anything to cause it.  Well. I'm better now.   Good luck...like so many of the really aggravating SE's this too shall pass! 

Acid reflux definitely causes difficulty swallowing.  I have it really bad - if you suffer from a lot of heartburn you should see your doctor as heartburn can cause esophogeal cancer.

I don't have trouble swallowing but I do have a very annoying lump in my throat. I first noticed it during chemo. It came and went. Then on my very first radiation treatment it came back that evening. The radiologist said it was not a side effect because the treatment was for my breast and not near the throat area. I beg to differ because of when it started. I finished my 35 treatments on Oct. 14th and still have the lump in my throat. At this point I think it is caused more from stress than anything else. Just because I'm wondering if it is serious!

I began having difficulty swallowing after my 6th tx.  It became worse during that weekend and I actually felt like I was strangling one evening when I tried to swallow a pill. It took a LONG time to go down and was painful until it did. My throat was sore during swallowing food as well. By the following Tuesday, I asked to be seen by an NP following my tx.  She told me to try  ibuprophen and to take Zantac as long I as took the ibuprophen. She also recommended Cepacol throat lozenges. All were helpful.  The next day, the techs asked me to reposition my head to turn it further to my right so get my esophagus out of the overhead field. I had no pain and no difficulty swallowing by the end of the following weekend. It is important to let them know this is causing a big problem (I had begun to lose weight) and ask specifically if your esophagus is in any of the radiation fields....if so, what adjustments can be made.

amlg1, My swallowing problem was always when I tried to eat or drink....especially at dinner when I am usually hungry.  It was more difficult to eat with each treatment and if I didn't drink liquids very slowly, it felt like they refluxed and I felt strangled. I was amazed that all that resolved so quickly after a simple position change. In the meantime the Cepacol lozenges just before I ate were helpful.

kbeck56, I also had  a lump in my throat and it is gone since the change in how I turned my head. So it is possible for radiation tx. for breast cancer to cause that symptom. I am having all nodes radiated as well as the lumpectomy site - 4 fields for 32 or 33 txs.  I have read that most throat symptoms eventually resolve/heal after radiation ends. I hope that is the case for you.

Thank You for your input,but it has gotten worse,it seems my esophogus seems verydry all the time,and I think thats why I am having trouble swallowing.I will be seeing the Dr. on the 16th.

Still feels like there is a lump in my throat.My onco.said it might get worse since they are radiating close to my throat.I  was told by the tech to raise my chin higher.The Dr. also said it would go away after rads..

My mother is being treated for bilateral carcinoma in breast and started having difficulty in swallowing food and water alongwith sore throat after 8 days of radiation. I am going to meet the doctor tommorrow. Any clue how long will it take for the soreness and difficulty to decrease..?

nanabolini 

If rads don't caused throat problems, then how come so many breast cancer patients get them during/after radiation.

I think going to a gastroenterologist is the way to go.  Someone with no skin in the game. 

Hey! I'm a medical speech-language pathologist, who specializes in swallowing disorders (dysphagia).  This was one of my first questions for my rad onc, because I've seen articles/presentations that have shown an increase of esophageal dysphagia in patients who have undergone radiation for breast cancer.  My rad onc also denied this however...hmmm.  Hope it resolves for you!

After radiation to the chest for breast cancer late 2012, I have developped significant breathing issues and it all started with THROAT issues, yes. Which I still am having: tight, sore throat, swallowing constantly (mucus/fluid buildup in the oesophagus perhaps?) The ENT also diagnosed GERD but medication doesn't seem to work. Does anyone know if these symptoms ever get BETTER over time??? so scary.

McKatherine, I still have this. Finished rads end of aug, but noticed the lump in my throat feeling within the first week of tx. I told the techs who quickly said it wasn't due to rads-but made sure I saw my RO about it. He did confirm that sometimes that area can get scatter radiation and it should go away after. Mine doesn't hurt but it is annoying. I always feel it. I had my thyroid levels checked because I was concerned that maybe my thyroid was hit, showed low end of normal. I have a follow up apt. Next month with RO and will question him again since it hasn't gotten any better.

Found this thread googling tonight. I started to feel like I had a frog in my throat in June during rads. I mentioned it to my RO in July but he dismissed it. I had a CT of head/neck in August as I could not move my neck at all. That did not show anything terrible but did show incidental thyroid nodules. Biopsied and benign (1.2 cm each side) and referred by GP to endocrinologist for thyroid problems. Today I finally saw him in a swallowing clinic as it turned out. Inconclusive and wait and see attitude as anything to do with thyroid is so invasive. But he said it may be a swallowing muscle issue coincidental to the nodules. It may go away and may be just due to rads. It is annoying for sure as always seems like I am swallowing over a lump and some positions worse when doing yoga for instance.

Still feels like a frog in my throat. I am going away in March and plan to make an appt. with swallowing clinic for May if still an issue. I guess I have kind of got used to it but it is not right. Good luck ice baby that you do not have any of those things!

Hello ladies and congrats icebaby10 on completing your rads. I mentioned this to my RO about a week ago because I have the same sensation in my throat. It feels as though it is a very dry throat and sometimes a drink makes it feel better. My RO said it is most likely from scatter radiation to my subclavicular nodes because he said I am not getting radiation in my throat or esophagus but near it and that it should go away after radiation. I have completed 21 of 33 as of today.