#55616 10-13-2004 10:20 AM | Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 34 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | OP  Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 34 | Hi, we are new to this site & are seeking more knowledge. Bob finished 35 sessions of radiation 1 week ago for cancer at the base of his tongue. He is recovering ok, but having trouble coughing up large amounts of phlegm. Sometimes it is more like vomitting & seems to be worse at night. He is taking Boost+ and water thru a feeding tube as it is still painful to swallow. Any help/suggestions on addressing the phlegm situation. We appreciate any help. Thanks!
Dx June 18, 2004, neck dissection July 1, 35 radiation txs Aug 18-Oct 7.
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#55617 10-13-2004 01:25 PM | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 372 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 372 | Hey Bob and Laurie,
Welcome to the board...there is so much information here and many, many caring people! There is a suction machine you can get thru home care by asking your oncologist. They put a prescription thru for it and Bob can suction carefully around his mouth to try and help with the phlegm. It's hard for several weeks having radiation ends, then it starts to improve.
God bless you both!
Debbie
Debbie - Caregiver for husband, Dan, diagnosed with tongue cancer 7/03. Partial gloss., mod. neck dissections, graft. Recurrence neck tumor 12/03. Radical left neck dissection 12/24/03-unable to get all the tumor. 8 weeks chemo/rad beginning 1/12/04.
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#55618 10-13-2004 01:41 PM | Joined: May 2003 Posts: 928 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: May 2003 Posts: 928 | Hello Laura and Bob
The suction machine is called I believe a Yankeur, not sure of spelling. You might want to try keeping his air moist and ask his Doc about something to loosen the phlegm. If I had a brain I would be able to remember the name of the over the counter meds Pete used.
This is a hard time in the treatment , when radiation finishes. His mouth will be sore for a while.
I am sure you will get lots of advice soon,when everyone sees your message.
Please let us know how he progresses and if you need anything we will try to help.
Take care both of you
Love
Marica
Caregiver to husband Pete, Dx 4/03 SCC Base of Tongue Stage IV. Chemo /Rad no surgery. Treatment finished 8/03. Doing great!
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#55619 10-13-2004 04:53 PM | Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 | Hi Laura and Bob,
Try some robitussin (guaifenesin)to cut through the mucous. It helped me alot and I would put it right in my peg tube. The humidifier my husband bought me also helped. Try to keep Bob's head propped up on pillows or have him sleep in a recliner. Does he feel sick to his stomach because of the mucous? I did take a med for nauseau also, can't remember the name of it now.
Try to keep Bob drinking water by mouth. The added fluids will help with the mucous and it will also keep his swallowing intact.
Take care,
Minnie
SCC Left Mandible. Jaw replaced with bone from leg. Neck disection, 37 radiation treatments. Recurrence 8-28-07, stage 2, tongue. One third of tongue removed 10-4-07. 5-23-08 chemo started for tumor behind swallowing passage, Our good friend and much loved OCF member Minnie has been lost to the disease (RIP 10-29-08). We will all miss her greatly.
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#55620 11-11-2004 09:00 AM | Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 11 Member | | Member
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 11 | All we can offer is that this is a temporary side effect and it really does get better over time. Later on he will have thick mucus balls he'll hack up and very dry mouth. Have him rinse his mouth out with carbonated water. Sounds strange, but it really works. Don't try until mouth is healed from the sores. | | |
#55621 11-11-2004 09:12 AM | Joined: Sep 2002 Posts: 642 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2002 Posts: 642 | Bob and Laurie,
The hospital prescirbed me the Yankauer suction machine and I kept it by my easy chair during the day and by the bedside at night, and it was much better than constantly spitting into tissues. As everyone said, the thick mucous does stop flowing eventually. That is the good news. The bad news is that just about the time that the mucous stops waking you up at night, the dry mouth begins waking you up at night. Oh well, just the price that we pay.
Hang in there...things will get better, it just requires patience.
Regards,
Danny G.
Stage IV Base of Tongue SCC
Diagnosed July 1, 2002, chemo and radiation treatments completed beginning of Sept/02.
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