| | Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 17 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 17 | I always thought that I would have a problem with a dry mouth but just the opposite is happening. Completed chemo and radiation one yr to date and just recently I have started getting too much saliva to the point that I am constantly spitting and putting kleenex in my mouth. It is affecting my speech as well and of course my lips are so sore from all the wiping. Has anyone experienced this and is there any advice for me! thank you so much!!
Marianne
dob 12/22/45
2002 DX SCC Stge 4,tumor lft sde tongue,surgery
2005 recur Stge 4 tumor lft side tongue
surgery, flap, XRT
2010 recurr. Stge 4, tumor rt sde tongue
surgery, flap, chemo, radiat. Port, PEG
2010 Peritonitis, liver abc., bacter. infections
2011 Exposed jawb. HBO
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 168 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 168 | I have that problem now but I am only one week out of treatment. I hope others can help. It must be awful. I know I am struggling with tons of mucus right now and it is horrible. I feel for you. -Michelle
SCC left tonsil, stage IV, HPV+, metastatic to one lymph node. Biopsy 12/23/10; tonsillectomy 1/13/11; DX 1/25/11; Peg in 1/28/11. Peg out 6/29. TX 1/31/11-3/21/11: 35 IMRT plus 3 Cisplatin. Pet-Scan 6/20/11 = CLEAR! Three years out, learning to live with the long-term side effects of radiation while reminding myself to feel blessed.
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 | Water Pik. That is my lifeline in dealing with excess mucous. It works fabulously and you can use it as much as you like. Just fill with water, aim it into your mouth, bend over the sink and close your eyes (re grossness). The water does the work and cleans out your mouth. It last for a good length of time.
I also put Biotene mouthwash in the water in the Water Pik at time. Lovely fresh mouth!
I did write Water Pik and tell them that they should sponsor OCF because of the number of times I have done this post but it truly is a Godsend for getting rid of that mucous.
Donna
Last edited by Pandora99; 03-30-2011 07:42 PM.
Donna,69, SCC L Tongue T2N1MO Stg IV 4/04 w/partial gloss;32 radtx; T2N2M0 Stg IV; R tongue-2nd partial gloss w/graft 10/07; 30 radtx/2 cispl 2/08. 3rd Oral Cancer surgery 1/22 - Stage 1. 2022 surgery eliminated swallowing and bottom left jaw. Now a “Tubie for Life”.no food envy - Thank God! Surviving isn't easy!!!! .Proudly Canadian - YES, UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE IS WONDERFUL! (Not perfect but definitely WONDERFUL)
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 71 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 71 | I carry a cup and spit. Similar to a tobacco chewer here in the south. I sleep on towels draped over my pillow. It is a nasty pain, for sure.
11/1999 SCC tongue - surgery
1/2000 Met(s) in lymph nodes - modRND
2/2000-4/2000 RT ~6 weeks
end of 2006 SCC tongue - surgery
1/2008 SCC BOT - surgery / PEG installed
2/2008 chemo & RT
4/2008 last time I consumed solid food by mouth
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 507 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 507 | I also use a Water-Pik.
Although I am well beyond any mucous problems, I think it has really kept my gum-line healthy,plaque free and helps the fluoride trays to be effective.
I put about an eighth of a teaspoon of salt/baking-soda mix in the water.
Early on I couldn't turn up the pressure very high, but it was still great for cleaning out my mouth.
Don
TXN2bM0 Stage IVa SCC-Occult Primary
FNA 6/6/08-SCC in node<2cm
PET/CT 6/19/08-SCC in 2nd node<1cm
HiRes CT 6/21/08
Exploratory,Tonsillectomy(benign),Right SND 6/23/08
PEG 7/3/08-11/6/08
35 TomoTherapy 7/16/08-9/04/08 No Chemo
Clear PET/CT 11/15/08, 5/15/09, 5/28/10, 7/8/11
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | I carried a small styofoam cup that I would hide in my pants pocket. GROSS GROSS and MORE GROSS.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,406 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,406 | I just rarely left the house. I'm only partially kidding...
The Water Pic idea sounds like a good one, marianne. Wish I'd thought of it!
Courage.
david2
David 2
SCC of occult origin 1/09 (age 55)| Stage III TXN1M0 | HPV 16+, non-smoker, moderate drinker | Modified radical neck dissection 3/09 | 31 days IMRT finished 6/09 | Hit 14 years all clear in 6/23 | Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome kicked in a few years after treatment and has been progressing since | Prostate cancer diagnosis 10/18
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 63 "OCF Kiwi Down Under" Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | "OCF Kiwi Down Under" Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 63 | i've had hypersalivation from before surgery , if i go out now i have 2 or 3 plastic pottles (urine sample ones are good size) , i covered the sides in black tape so you cant see whats in it. found its easier to reasonably quietly be able to spit into those screw the lid back on and in your pocket before you know it, rather than heading off to the toilets / washroom every 5 minutes.
45 yrs. peg tube jan 07/09 TOTAL GLOSSECTOMY jan 12/09
T3NOscc oral(ex smoker )
open tracheostomy , removed oct 12/09
modified neck dissection lymph nodes I to IV
rectus abdominal flap + full dental removal
30 day radiation treatment ,diagnosed with lung cancer oct 2011
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 167 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 167 | A very common side effect of the medication scopolamine - a trans dermal patch-is dry mouth. It is often used to decrease hypersalivation.
Ask your MD - might be worth a try!
Jennifer (39)
02/10 SCCa Tongue & Base, HPV-
03/10 Partial Glossectomy & ND 11/10 Revision due to additional nodes 12/20-2/2/11 IMRT & concommitant chemo 2/11 PEG in 3/11 PEG out
Back at work and feeling good 03/24/11!
12/20/11 - 9 month f/u PET/CT - all clear!
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 63 "OCF Kiwi Down Under" Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | "OCF Kiwi Down Under" Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 63 | just looked it up on google and pretty sure they tried those on me while i was in ward , not a huge effect overall and very expensive here.
45 yrs. peg tube jan 07/09 TOTAL GLOSSECTOMY jan 12/09
T3NOscc oral(ex smoker )
open tracheostomy , removed oct 12/09
modified neck dissection lymph nodes I to IV
rectus abdominal flap + full dental removal
30 day radiation treatment ,diagnosed with lung cancer oct 2011
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