Speech & Language Therapy

Speech language therapy

Some patients may notice changes to their voice, speech and ability to swallow as a result of their cancer or treatment. Our speech language therapist will work with patients to minimize these changes.

During chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy you may experience the following difficulties:

- Difficulty swallowing due to the location and size of the cancer.

- Inflammation/pain in the mouth or throat caused by treatment.

- Pain when swallowing (odyndophagia).

- Dry mouth and thick saliva due to changes in your saliva production.

- Reduced mouth opening (trismus).

- Loss of taste and smell changes.

- Voice changes.

If your oncologist suspects you will have speech, voice or swallowing changes due to your treatment, you will be referred to the speech and language therapist prior to commencing chemotherapy/radiation therapy. The speech and language therapist will provide you with information about what to expect with regards to your speech, swallow and voice. They will also provide you with preventative exercises to reduce the effects of the chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy on the muscles/structures of swallowing and vocal production. The speech and language therapist will be available throughout your treatment to support you and your family and they will recommend ways for you to eat and drink safely to maintain your fluid and nutritional needs.