Hi everybody,

I have been on and off this website since being diagnosed last July 4 with stage IV tonsil cancer and have to thank everybody for all the great tips and information. It has been extremely helpful and I have been able to pass that information onto others.

I completed my radiation/chemo in Novemeber and had Modified Radical Neck Surgery this past May. According to my doctor, I am healing very nicely. I still wake up mornings swollen and spend the day stretching and massaging the throat and surgery area. Before the surgery the swelling wou dgo down in an hour or so, now it takes most of the day for the swelling to go down , and smetimes it doesn't. Doctor says this is normal, but sometimes I wonder.

Also, and this is the real reason for this blog is that I am having trouble swallowing due to very heavy and thick mucus. I rinse with warm and salt water and it helps for a while. The problem that exists is that I seem to be aspirating the mucus and for the last month or 2 have had to deal with pluerisy/walking pnuemonia, tht keeps coming back. Ive been on and off antibiotics and it helps for awhile but then I end up feeling that heaviness in the chest again. Ive tried both the robitussn and musinex but it doesnt seem to help me bring up the mucus. Has anyone out there had the same problems? Does anyone have any ideas as to what else I can do?

Thanks again, in advance for all your ideas and support.

Fred