Rosie,

I agree with everyone else that what your husband is experiencing sounds pretty much the normal course of issues after radiation. Make sure he is getting lots of fluids. Also, find some cough syrup with Guaifeneisin such as Robitussin. Be sure and put it in the tube, not the throat or be prepared for a blood curdling scream eek . The alcohol in it will surely feel like drinking fire. Sleep with a humidifier at night, rinse and spit that stuff out as often as possible. It should be a darker color now but gradually turn clearer and clearer and then diminish. It is caused by the mucuous membrane that was damaged by the radiation as it heals. You might have him sleep with the head slightly elevated, too. He should try and drink or "tube" at least the followingL body wt/2 to get the minimum ounces of water per day. It wouldn't hurt to even use pediolyte for the extra electrolytes and better absorbtion, too.

Keep us posted on his progress. These are some of the most difficult times right now. Surgery to the radiated tissue areas this close to radiation would not be the best option.

Ed

SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023