Please help - I am helping care for my brother who has tongue cancer and is at the end of his 5th week of radiation - he's also had two chemo treatments. He is having a terrible time the last couple of days with increasing amounts of thick phlegm. He has been using the salt and soda rinse faithfully and drinking water, but it just seems to be getting worse. Any suggestions? He is so fatigued as it is breaking up his sleep and getting very discouraged.

Kathy

Unfortunately mucous and also fatigue are side effects from rad. Glad he is using the salt/baking soda/water rinse it does help alot. Keeping up his hydration also helps. Try some musinex or other over the counter robotussin type cold medicine. Of course check with his doctor first. The mucous will unfortunately hang around for a few more weeks even after rad is finished. Right now is the rough part of treatment, and that will last for about 2 or 3 wks after rad is over. Then he will slowly start to feel better.

Hi Kathy

The mucous started for me after about the 2nd week of radiation and it was driving me absolutely crazy.

I also know how frustrated your brother would be feeling - and lack of sleep makes it feel 10 times worse. I was up every night nearly every couple of hours trying to get that stuff out of my mouth.

I drank lots of water and kept using the mouth wash that the hospital provided.

I know it doesn't help him now but it should start to go a couple of weeks after he finishes his radiotherapy treatment. I really thought it was never going to stop, but it does.

Karen

Lasted 2 to 3 weeks for me as well. When that's over the dry mouth will set in.

I am just passing 16 months since surgery and I still have thick mucous. I have an idea it's from rad seed implants in my tongue this past Feb 29th. Hang in there brother. This all takes the time it needs and you will be fine. Good luck to you and yours. One thing I have learned is to have a handerkerchef in front of your mouth when you cough.

Kath

My phlegm was also thick that the baking soda/salt rinse did not help at all. What worked for me was plain old seltzer water in the cans. The large bottles did not work because the fizz was lost too quickly but one can was just the right amount to swish and gargle and spit about three times. And I needed all three to clear out the phlegm. A case of 24 cans was about $4 and I bought the generic store version.
I still had to get up three or four times a night but at least I was not choking all the time.
Another hint is to get one of the BIG travel coffee/drink mugs and keep it in the car so that your brother can gargle and spit while on the road. I bought one with me to the radiation waiting room and right around the 5th week had to upgrade to a "spit bucket" - one of those cylindrical coolers to accomodate the volume.
Best wishes Please assure your brother that while such thick phlegm plagued me during and even after radiation, but it did get better.

Thanks to everyone who answered my plea. I am staying with him this week (family is on a rotation schedule) and I was really concerned by the way this was affecting him emotionally, too. I will see if he will try the seltzer water and we have upped his water intake. He is very reluctant to try anything out of the ordinary unless the doctors suggest it, so here's hoping.

My best to all of you. I may be back to ask more questions...