Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)

Some cancers and their treatments can cause problems with chewing and swallowing. What causes swallowing problems? Doctors call difficulty swallowing dysphagia.Some cancer types are more likely to cause problems with chewing or swallowing. These include:voice box (larynx)thyroid glandmouth and tongue (oral cancer)throat (pharynx)nasal cavity and sinusesmelanoma or other skin cancer on the facesalivary glandsfood pipe (oesophagus)You might have difficulty swallowing if a tumour is blocking part of your throat, voice box or food pipe.Cancer treatments can also make swallowing difficult. You might have:had surgery to your head or neck areahad a course of radiotherapy to your head or neckhad a tube (stent) put into your food pipehad your voice box removeda sore mouth or throat due to chemotherapy, targeted cancer drugs or immunotherapy The effects of surgery Surgery for cancer of the head or neck may affect the muscles in this area. This can make chewing and swallowing difficult. How diffi...