Radiotherapy after salivary gland surgery | CION Cancer Clinics

Not everyone does. Radiotherapy is usually advised after surgery when the final report shows features that raise the chance of the cancer coming back in the same area. After a benign tumour, or a small low-grade cancer that was fully removed, surgery alone is often enough.

Why it comes after the operation

For most salivary gland cancers, surgery comes first. The removed tumour tells the team what they are dealing with: the type, the grade, whether the edges are clear and whether lymph nodes were involved. Radiotherapy afterwards, called adjuvant treatment, aims at any cells that may have been left behind in the area.

Who it may not suit

It is not usually offered after surgery for a benign tumour. It needs more thought if the same area has had radiotherapy before. Some people with other serious illnesses may find a long daily course very hard. Your team weighs these against the likely benefit.

Side effects build up during the course and are usually worst towards the end or just after it. Most short-term effects then settle over the following weeks. Some changes can last, and those are worth understanding before you start.

During treatment

The skin on the treated side of the neck turns red, dry and sore, rather like sunburn. The mouth and throat can become sore, which makes eating harder, and taste often changes. Tiredness is common. Tell the team as soon as eating hurts, because it is easier to manage early.

Longer-term changes

A dry mouth can last, especially if other salivary glands were in the path of the beam. Teeth decay more easily, so fluoride and dental care matter for life. The jaw muscles can stiffen, making it hard to open wide. Rarely, the jawbone heals poorly after a later tooth extraction. That is called osteoradionecrosis, and it is why the dentist is involved.

Weight and eating

Losing weight during treatment can loosen the mask and slow recovery. A dietitian can help with soft, high-energy food. Occasionally a feeding tube is suggested for a while if eating becomes too difficult.

This page cannot tell you whether you need radiotherapy. That depends on your final report, your general health and what your team weighs at the tumour board. It cannot tell you how you will cope either, because people vary a great deal.

Questions worth asking

Why is radiotherapy advised in my case, and what would happen without it? Which area will be treated, and does it include the neck? Which technique will you use, and how will it spare my other salivary glands? How long will the course be, and when should it start?

Planning around a daily course

A course runs most weekdays for several weeks, so travel matters if you live in a district away from Hyderabad. Ask early about timing, where you could stay and who will come with you. Check whether Aarogyasri, CGHS, ECHS, EHS or your insurance covers it before the course starts.