| | Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 80 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP  Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 80 | Hi All,
I apologize in advance if this is too graphic, but I am wondering if this too is 'normal'. Being 1 1/2 weeks out of treatment, I am in the mucus-overload phase. It is pretty constant all day long - unbelievable that the body can produce such quantities. The mucus varies from light foamy white mucus to a thick putrid yellow (excuse me, but almost like 'snot' - for lack of better word.) And of course there are times when there are small bits of blood.
There is no predicting what is going to come up; I just spend the day coughing and gurgling it up. It does seem to slow down a bit when I take my Roxicet (liquid Oxycodone) - maybe the pain meds slow down the irritation to my throat so I am not coughing as much.
Anyhow, wondering if this rainbow of color and texture is normal or could the yellow be from thrush (which I don't seem to have other symptoms of).
Thanks in advance,
Nancy
Nancy
Age 56 at diagnosis
Neck Lymph node removed 11/2012
Tonsillectomy perfomed 12/2012 - identified as primary
SCC Left Tonsil with Left Node involvement, DX 12/2012
RX started 1/29/2013, finished 3/23/2013;
Daily IMRT (35 Sessions)
Weekly Taxol/Carboplatin (6 weeks)
PEG placed after week 4 (3/1/2013)
PEG removed 6 1/2 months later (8/12/2013)
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | When first finishing with rads, most patients will have very thick yellowish mucous. It can be described as being ropey. This phase will hang around for a few weeks then seemingly overnight it will turn into dry mouth. When that hits you will wake up in the night with your tongue stuck to the roof of your mouth and become one of the many who carry a water bottle everywhere.
Some members will get a prescription for a portable suction machine to get rid of the gunk. Also a water pik used on low will help break it up. Some members have rinsed with seltzer water and found it helps.
Thrush is usually a white coating on your tongue which can be scrapped off. You need nystatin or some other meds to get rid of thrush.
Hang in there, thing will start getting better soon.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | | | | | Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 | To add to the above, radiation only destroys thin mucus, which is what the parotid gland produces, not thick. The other glands, submandibular, sublingual, produce a mixture of both thin and thick, but mainly thick, so is the reason for the "rope mucus" since the thin was destroyed. The thick mucus is more yellowish in color. Tell your your doctor, just to rule out any infections. Good luck.
10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil
11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp
01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks
06/11 30 HBO
08/11 RND PNI
06/12 SND PNI LVI
08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy
10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux
10/13 SND
10/13 TBO/Angiograph
10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI
12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo
11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO
03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN
09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy
04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site
06/17 Heart Attack Stent
02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs
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