My husband is 31/2 months post treatment for cancer of the vocal cord. Things were going great, had first clear PET scan end of June. Since then he has developed sleep apnea and it seems to get worse each week. I have counted him not breathing 20-30 seconds then takes 5 big breaths like he is very winded and wakes himself up by moving around as he fights to get air and then back to sleep in seconds and the pattern repeats. He has a consult scheduled Aug 15th and I have spend hours trying to find somewhere to get this done sooner. Hopefully next week. I was awake from 12 -4 last night trying to get him in a position where he would breathe. Usually on his side is better but that didn't even work. Is this a very common side effect from treatment. Do you think wearing the mask will help? He is not overwight, went from 216 to 176 during treatment. He has been having a lot more trouble with lymphedema in his neck area so maybe the swelling is part of the problem. Hi neck seems realy tight and he has developed some trouble swallowing but nothing serious. Would appreciate any insight and how serious is this to be going without oxygen so many times during the night?
Thank you!!
Reply # - July 25, 2012, 03:05 AM
Reply To: Sleep apnea chronic after radiaton/chemo
Dawn, sorry to hear about this. Sounds like a question for Dr Weiss. Possibly the radiation caused some inflammation/swelling?
While you are waiting, I thought this thread might be of interest - about a lady with similar problems:
http://cancergrace.org/forums/index.php/topic,6856.msg49644.html#msg496…
This must be frightening for you, especially at night, and I am sure you are right to seek a medical opinion.
Reply # - July 25, 2012, 05:48 AM
Reply To: Sleep apnea chronic after radiaton/chemo
Dawnd, my husband has sleep apnea, too, and I know how frightening it can be to listen to your husband breathing, and then stopping, wondering when he will breath again. My husband's probably started many years ago, and well before his development and diagnosis of lung cancer. He doesn't wear a mask because of claustrophopia but is getting a dental appliance next week. Hopefully, that will help. I wish you all the best in your seach for a resolution of this problem. Please keep us informed.
follansbee
Reply # - July 25, 2012, 11:00 AM
Reply To: Sleep apnea chronic after radiaton/chemo
Dawn hello, I have sleep apnea and it is disquieting for my husband to witness. I'm sorry your husband has this as a possible side effect of his cancer or treatment.
I will email Dr. Weiss for comment as CS suggested, good idea, he has a specialty in head and neck cancer.
Janine
forum moderator
what kind of treatment did he have?
Reply # - July 25, 2012, 12:47 PM
Reply To: Sleep apnea chronic after radiaton/chemo
We definitely see this as a complication of head/neck cancer therapy. Your husband would have originally seen an ENT, who likely made the diagnosis then referred to medonc and radonc for chemorads. I recommend calling this ENT right away and making them aware of the problem. Further, it might be good to see a sleep specialist; while different specialists later sub-specialize into sleeep medicine, a pulmonologist with specialized expertise might be the most useful here.
It's hard to know how serious apnea is without a sleep study. Sleep studies measure oxygen levels throughout sleep and some patients do have very serious desaturations. As you know, it's impossible to guess how bad your husband's problem is over the intnernet, but what you're describing sounds a bit alarming from a common sense perspective. I recommend calling the ENT today as well as making the medonc and radonc who treated him aware immediately.