He is being treated by our PCP and was seen by an ENT, Pulmonologist, Thoracic surgeon and Infectious disease docs when he was hospitalized at our local facility. I worked with his PCP so I call him whenever I have questions or a problem, His original surgery. radiation and followup was at Sloan Kettering. I did contact the original surgeon who is still practicing. He is now the department head. He gave me the name of someone to see when John is up to making an office visit. He is improving but still not up to making the trip into Manhatten. He is using a humidified O2 and is on nebs every 6 hours. I will try to remove the mucous with the Q tips as you suggest. Currently I have been changing the inner cannula from the trach, cleaning it and then replacing it. I am trying not to suction him if he can cough it out.
I did neglect to mention that besides the recent lobectomy he also had 2 other thoracotomies with wedge rections of the right lung for benign tumors from the radiation so I am sure that both of his lungs are compromised. Reguarding the dyspahgia, the docs felt it was a long term effect from the radiation and also from muscle deterioration from his poor nutrition. They are hoping that with the PEG feedings and speech therapy he may be able to swallow. He has gained 10lbs in 6 weeks, Another problem he had was that all last summer he was having a lot of trouble with his remaining teeth. His dentist finally had decided to pull them but he got sick before it could be done. His lab values when he was first admitted in December showed he was malnourished
I guess the best advise we can give anyone is that no matter how long you have been cancer free make sure to continue follow up visits with the speicalists. We stopped going into NY in 1999(20 years out) and just saw his PCP for check ups. We regret this but can't go back. Our goal now is to get him back to New York as soon as we can
Thanks for listening.

Mary