Hi, Deb! Tom has this issue too. He asked his RO about it. RO explained that it is from the radiation burns in his throat "oozing." They will continue to do so until they heal.

Since it's not mucus, I can't see how guafenisin or mucinex would be of help. That being said, we are in the peak of fall allergy season "up North," and for a few days, Tom took benedryl and he said it helped a little, but what may have helped was the sedative effect that helped him sleep.

The stuff makes him gag--and so does the thought of suction. So he hacks it up and out (because it hurts him too much swallow now) and it makes him vomit every now and then. Even though L is still able to swallow, I would think the best thing is to spit it out since swallowing it might upset his stomach.

To try to keep the stuff loose, Tom uses the baking soda and salt water rinse regularly (1 t of each in 32 oz water). I'll be curious to hear if the humidifier helps.

Hang in there! I'll be thinking of you two on Wednesday and listening for the sound of the bell cool

Joyce

CG to Tom dx SCC 5/06; right neck lymph nodes removed, dx right tonsil and tonsillectomy 6/06; rad and chemo started 7/06; treatment COMPLETED 9/06 33x rad; Erbitux (8x); Cisplatin (2);