Swallowing difficulties after head and neck cancer present a significant barrier from returning to everyday life.
Whether you no longer feel comfortable eating in front of others, or cannot take in sufficient food due to pain, the inability to swallow can have an impact on your quality of life. Speech language pathologists and other professionals can assess your ability to swallow safely and effectively and prescribe modified diets or exercises. Studies show that performing swallowing exercises before and during treatment can help reduce and/or prevent swallowing difficulties.
Resources for rehabilitation of swallowing and eating
- Swallowing exercises for patients with head and neck cancer receiving radiation treatment
- Self-Guided Exercise Program: Swallowing Exercises DVD
You may view this video online or borrow a copy from the Patient and Family Library at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre using the following code: UHN FE380 P945 2011 - Head and Neck: Supporting You Through Treatment class at University Health Network
Patients are usually booked in this class during first or second week of treatment. To reschedule the class please call 416-946-4501 x2187 - Managing the side effects of chemotherapy
- Getting Back on Track: Life After Treatment for Head and Neck Cancer at University Health Network
- What to expect while receiving radiation therapy for head and neck cancer
- Eating tips for Sore Mouth and Throat
- Trismus – Are You at Risk? (Trismus is trouble opening the jaw or mouth widely)
- How to Manage Your Mouth Problems from Cancer Care Ontario
- How to Manage Your Loss of Appetite from Cancer Care Ontario
Find help with swallowing and eating therapy
- Use our “Find a program or therapist” guide to locate a speech language pathologist knowledgeable in head and neck cancer
- Visit the Ontario Association of Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists to locate a clinician
- Swallowing Clinic at Toronto Western Hospital (University Health Network patients only)
- Supportive Care Clinic at Odette Cancer Centre (Sunnybrook patients only)
- “Jaw-dropping” Trismus class
A class for head and neck patients of University Health Network to go through exercises and strategies to increase mouth opening. You will also learn more about the Thera-bite device. Held approximately every 3 months. Call 416-340-4406 at to register.