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#196146 04-14-2018 12:17 PM
Joined: Apr 2018
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spede Offline OP
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Hi,
After years of low fluid saliva production, I now have increased saliva to the extend that it is difficult not to spit while talking. Mornings are OK, but afternoons it can be difficult to talk.

Any ideas what might help?


Peter
spede #196151 04-14-2018 05:23 PM
Joined: Jun 2007
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Welcome to OCF!

Are you an oral cancer survivor? If so did you have radiation treatments? chemo? If so, when did you finish your treatments?

If you are less than 2 years past when you finished your radiation treatments, your saliva production is probably as good as you can expect it to be. Look for things that contain xylitol, like gum and hard candies. You may also find some help with taking a prescription medicine pilocarpine. Taking small sips of water helps too. You probably will find some help from yoru physician as well.

Dry mouth is something most oral cancer patients who underwent radiation treatments will struggle with for many years.

Since you are not from the US, I do not have info about how your country's medical system works, same goes for medications.


Christine
SCC 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 smile
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 4
spede Offline OP
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Thanks Christine,

I had cancer treatment in Texas 2006-2007 for Squamous cell carcinoma right tonsil.
Operation, Chemo and 36 times radiation.
20 lympf nodes removed. It took me several years to bounce back, but lately ( 2-3 years?) my Saliva production has gone crazy, every afternoon I have too much saliva, I can hardly swallow it down fast enough, so my speech is affected negatively.

I wonder if anybody knows what to do to reduce saliva production.


Peter
spede #196162 04-15-2018 02:56 PM
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 10,507
Likes: 6
Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
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Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services
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Posts: 10,507
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Peter, I have a friend who underwent OC radiation treatments around 10 years ago. She has suffered with over-production of saliva and a sour taste in her mouth ever since she was about 6 months post rads. She searched far and wide (I tried to help search too) for an answer to what was going on and how to stop it. Unfortunately after looking for answers for many years, nothing was ever found. I got the closest we ever came to what was happening with her... my doc advised me that her extra saliva production was the opposite of what OC patients normally experience after rads. Its almost as if her saliva function was broken going into rads and the rad treatments pretty much damaged her further by making her saliva glands over-produce. This is something shes dealt with for many years without ever finding another person who was similar, that is until now with you posting.

Im sorry! I wish I had better news to share.


Christine
SCC 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 smile
spede #196163 04-15-2018 11:43 PM
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 4
spede Offline OP
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Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 4
Thanks Christine!

I asked my daughter, she thinks it accelerated some 3 years ago, when I was able to eat salad again. Ah well, you can't have everything ... smile

-Peter


Peter

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