julieann

Yes you could have a secondary infection that is causing increased mucous. As the posts here all indicate: Thick saliva that chokes you and mucous that chokes you are commonplace side effects of radiation (why your doctors are not paying attention.) My first time round with cancer, I dealt with the mucous by gargling with seltzer water and spitting it out. This second time round, the mucous is much worse and the saliva is thick white ropes. I still use the seltzer water but also a home suction machine (insurance covered it for me- only runs $6 a month rental after initial $25 set up charge ) so you might ask your doctor about prescribing one for you. However just last week my MO (the chemo doctor) noted a slight "bad" smell on my breath and that my mucous had changed from clear white to slight yellow and diagnosed a secondary infection of necrotic tissue with anaerobic bacteria - he put me on antibiotics (clindamycin) which is generic Cleocin. within days the mucous has gotten clear and the saliva less ropy. so it would not hurt to bug your ENT or better yet RO or MO. so those are my three suggestions. Hope one of them works for you
charm