Just checking to see if any of you recognize any of these symptoms that could have been caused from radiation/chemo. I have had problems for about 2 years that I haven�t read anything similar from you guys. Please let me know if you have heard of, or experienced like symptoms. My local doctors and some from Vanderbilt University and University of Alabama all come up with the same thing: after-radiation side-effects. Four years ago, January, I finished my treatments for tonsil cancer. I went through the �normal� process of much mucus, feeding tube, no appetite, etc. Mucus then tasted either metallic or salty. Then things tapered off and less mucus. I never had dry mouth at that point.

Then about a year later, suddenly started having super dry mouth when waking, but as soon as I rinsed mouth/teeth and gargled, dry mouth went away, but I started having the most putrid sweet (snotty, sorry) taste, along with white frothy mucus. This was continual all day, and sometimes the frothiness changed to pasty, but taste was the same. Every ENT I went to and had numerous endoscopies and checks said it was radiation. Had an MRI with contrast recently that showed a mass in my hypopharyngeal site, so RO had ENT do a biopsy. Still awaiting some results, (NO CANCER ) but culture showed 4+ Gram Positive Cocci, and 2+ gram Positive Rods. My urinalysis showed I had 100,000 CFU/ML E. COLI, and a culture of mucus in mouth showed yeast. So, I�m trying to get these taken care of by an Infectious disease doctor since ENT and RO say they know very little about those findings.

I went to a Vanderbilt University ENT last Friday, she did the scope thing up my nose and down my throat (forgot what it was called), and found nothing that she said would account for the frothy sweet taste, and that she thinks it�s from radiation. In your opinion(s) do you think, like me, there is something going on other than the radiation after-effects, and if so, how would you handle it? I have been to several local ENTs, and I think they correspond with each other and I�m looked at as a �basket case.� My RO prescribed Paxil . So far, I have taken antibiotics for the E.COLI, and did another urine test Friday. I haven�t been able to find a doctor who deals with or treats Cocci, so haven�t had medication for that. My suspicions for the taste is that mucus/infection(?) is coming from nasal area, or perhaps the hypopharyngeal site. Do any of you have a suggestion as to how I should pursue this and not just try to live with it believing it�s a late reaction from radiation. My feeling is it�s not. Thank you for taking the time to read this and letting me know what your opinion is. I have gotten so much information from this Forum, I thought, okay, Julieann, put this question out to them and see what happens.
julieann