You may have difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) before, during or after treatment. This may be caused by the cancer itself or by swelling in the oesophagus after surgery. Signs include taking longer to chew and swallow; food getting caught in your mouth or throat; or bringing up food or vomiting.
Some people find that food and fluid go into the windpipe instead of the food pipe. This is called aspiration, and it can lead to chest infections like pneumonia. Talk to your doctor about these symptoms.
How to eat when it is hard to swallow
- Make food softer by chopping, mashing, slow-cooking, mincing or pureeing food.
- Between meals, snack on soft foods that are higher in energy and protein (e.g. avocado, yoghurt, ice-cream, custard, diced tinned fruit) and milkshakes.
- Chew carefully and slowly, sitting still and upright. Try to avoid talking while eating.
- Avoid dry foods such as bread, cakes, muffins and large chunks of meat. Add extra gravy or sauce to your meals.
- Wash food down with small sips of fluid.
- Ask your doctor for a referral to a speech pathologist for help managing symptoms.
→ READ MORE: Life after treatment for oesophageal cancer
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Key resource
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Prof David Watson, Matthew Flinders Distinguished Professor of Surgery, Flinders University, and Senior Consultant Surgeon, Oesophago-Gastric Surgery Unit, Flinders Medical Centre, SA; Prof Bryan Burmeister, Senior Radiation Oncologist, GenesisCare Fraser Coast and Hervey Bay Hospital, QLD; Dr Natalie Collier, Radiation Oncologist, Wollongong Hospital, NSW; A/Prof Melissa Eastgate, A/Executive Director, Cancer Care Services, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, QLD; Natalie Lalor, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council Victoria; Chris Menzies, Upper GI Cancer Nurse Consultant, Flinders Medical Centre and Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, SA; Tammy Milne, Consumer; Stefanie Simnadis, Clinical Dietitian, St John of God Subiaco Hospital, WA; Prof Rajvinder Singh, Professor of Medicine, University of Adelaide, and Director, Gastroenterology Department and Head of Endoscopy, Lyell McEwin Hospital, SA.
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