My husband was dx in early May. Despite the many side effects of chemo and radiation(nausea, hair loss, thrush, low wbc, rbc) the one that has been most troublesome for him is the excessive build up of phlegm. He sleeps sitting up until the saliva builds to a point where he wakes up. (the sound is similar to what I would lovingly describe as coughing up a hair ball)
He is on the feeding tube but the sores in his mouth are preventing him from taking anything by mouth ... even with the help of a morphine patch and the magic mouthwash. I read about a patch for motion sickness and it helped to dry his mouth somewhat but then the thrush was back with a vengence! Any ideas about how to help him?

Last edited by cjack; 08-22-2009 07:48 PM.
Base of tongue spread to 2 lymph nodes.stg?? Dx 5/5/09 peg
Tx started with 35 rad, 7 weeks cisplatin, 2 weeks 5-fu.
completed second course of tx with reduced dose of cisplatin &
5-fu. All clear
Post radiation swallowing difficulties 12 years later