Dysphagia after cancer – IQoro helped Thomas eat again
Thomas tells himself how, after a difficult cancer treatment, he regained his ability to eat and swallow. All thanks to the neuromuscular training device IQoro:
“In the beginning of 2013 I was diagnosed with cancer of the tonsils. I answered “yes” to the question if I wanted to take part in study. I was randomly selected to be treated with the antibody Erbitux in combination with radiation therapy. Erbitux was injected weekly and radiated altogether 34 times to the neck and the nearby lymph glands. The treatment brings with it serious radiation injuries which caused me to develop difficulty in eating and swallowing.
I wasn’t able to open my mouth more than a few millimetres.
My tongue and jaw also suffered considerable loss of function. I also developed a sort of pockets in the oesophagus where food could become lodged. In addition I also had great difficulty in opening my mouth more than a few millimetres. It was for example impossible to eat via the mouth and I received my nutrition via a PEG in my stomach.
Improvements after only a few weeks of training
It was the mother of a good friend, that read an article in a Swedish newspaper. It was about the neuro muscular training device IQoro where the treatment method was described. I googled the product and felt straightaway that what I was reading was a good fit for my problem. What made the strongest impression was the information on how IQoro could affect the brains possibility to modify itself. It can find new routes past the injured nerve pathways and could partially repair the functions in the damaged areas. I decided immediately to order one – ‘if it works it works, . . .’ I reasoned.
After just one week of training the mobility in my tongue had increased considerably.
Already after just a week’s training with IQoro, I could open my locked jaws and open my mouth markedly better. The mobility in my tongue had increased considerably. I trained according to the instructions 3 x 10 seconds, three times a day. After only a couple of weeks I experienced a gradual improvement. Now even in the pharynx where the muscles were radiation damaged with severely reduced function.
My goal: a trip to India
My goal was to be able to eat via the mouth again. The doctors thought it could not happen in the short term. But after four months training and careful eating training I decided that’s the stomach pipe would have to go. I wanted to travel to India. I love to feel the freedom to explore new territories. It makes me feel alive and good. So, against the doctors’ advice the pipe was taken away earlier than planned. I travelled to India where the issue was put to the test. But in fact it worked to eat again even if certain dishes were more difficult than others.
A research-based product that actually helps.
I’m convinced that IQoro played an important role in my rehabilitation. I talked about it to my doctors, my dietician and my dentist; all of whom had seen my improvement. I got the feeling however that the health care system is not exactly the first to be curious and interested in new innovations. Poor, I think! This is a research-based product that actually helps. I think it should be the healthcare systems responsibility to find out about the product. They ought to make IQoro available. The device really makes a difference.
Motivated to continue with my training
There were two more long trips to India. Almost 2 years after the diagnosis I began to work full-time again. The radiation injuries after my cancer treatments are partially chronic, but it works. When I travelled off to India I was really tired of everything to do with my illness. I think I ended my training with IQoro a little too early.
Some problems remain, but not at all to the same degree as earlier. Now I have promised myself to start the training process again. I will follow the training regime for at least 100 days without break. Now I feel motivated and certain that I can come even further on my road to full rehabilitation.”
Thomas Gerdin, Stockholm, Sweden