7 Ways to Manage Speech and Swallowing Changes After Cancer Treatment

Cancer treatments, like chemo, radiation, and surgery, can lead to problems with speech and swallowing. You might notice a hoarse voice, slurred speech, or trouble eating. These symptoms are especially common if the cancer affected your head, neck, mouth, or esophagus. Here are seven ways to manage speech and swallowing issues after cancer treatment.

The Mendelsohn maneuver helps strengthen your muscles so you can swallow better. Here are the basic steps:

1. Place your fingers on your throat and swallow normally. 
2. Feel your voice box move under your fingers. When it's at its highest point, squeeze your throat muscles. 
3. Hold it for three seconds. Then relax and repeat.

The chin-tuck technique is used to help you swallow safely. It’s simple. Right before you swallow, lower your chin toward your chest, almost like you're make a “double chin” on purpose. This helps close off your airway, so you’re less likely to choke or aspirate.

Focus on foods that are soft, bland, and smooth. Or try thickening liquids to make swallowing easier. Stay away from hard, dry foods or those that need a lot of effort to chew. Spicy or acidic foods can also be harder to swallow. A dietitian can help you come up with an eating plan that includes texture-modified foods.

If your speech problems are severe, certain devices can help you communicate, including: 

• Speech-generating devices. You pick pictures or words, and it talks for you.
• Text-to-speech tools or apps. You type on a device, and it speaks the words for you.
• Writing boards. These contain pictures, letters, or common words that you can point to.

An SLP is specially trained to help people who have trouble talking or swallowing after cancer treatment. As part of therapy, you’ll learn new methods to strengthen muscles or modify your breathing. An SLP can create a personalized plan to address your specific concerns. 

Certain medical procedures can help improve your voice after cancer treatment, including:

• Laryngoplasty. A small implant is used to push a weak vocal cord closer to the middle of your throat.
• Laryngeal injections. A filling agent is injected into your vocal cords to make them stronger. 
• Surgical reinnervation of the larynx. Doctors reconnect damaged nerves in your voice box.

Support groups can provide emotional and practical encouragement. These groups allow you to share your feelings with other people who’ve been through the same thing. The National Foundation of Swallowing Disorders (NFOSD) offers virtual and in-person support groups.