I am a cancer surviver but desperately need advice on a course of action or procedure to alleviate excessive and thick mucus and a persistent sickening sweet taste in my mouth, which has gotten a lot worse in the last two weeks. Following intensive internet searches and discussions with many doctors I had about given up until reading the 2005 Mucositis
Guidelines, MASCC/ISOO, for which you are a principal author. My symptoms aredescribed in the Guideline and I believe some of your treatment solutions could help me.
However, I have not been able to find a local physician who even understands my problem - most seem to think it's a "normal" side-effect from the radiation and chemotherapy.

On November 7, 2007 I had my tonsils removed in Huntsville, Alabama. A squamous-cell cancer tumor was discovered in one tonsil. I was given radiation five times in a week and one chemo treatment once a week for seven weeks. I was fitted with a feeding tube, which became infected. The gastroenterologist
I was seeing at that time completely ignored my complaints that the feeding
tube was causing soreness at the insertion site and making me feel nausea. The site of the feeding tube became so infected that it pushed out of my body. I've beenoff a feeding tube for about 6 months now. I'm wondering if I could have
another type infection now which could have increased the mucus I now have. The increase in mucus has been going on for about 2 weeks. Since the cancer procedure, I have experienced a continuous production of thick mucus-like saliva, but now it is getting worse. It almost chokes me so that I am forced to spit out constantly. Also the mucus has changed flavor (or is it damaged taste buds?) from very, very salty to very, very
sweet. Now, approximately 1-1/2 years since the cancer procedure, I have no desire
for food (though I make myself have three meals a day). I would greatly appreciate any information/suggestions you might have in helping me with this situation. Also, if you can suggest what type physician I should go to for help, I would appreciate it very much. I have been to My general practitioner, an ENT physician, and a gastroenterologist to
no avail.

Thank you, in advance, for any help or suggestions you can give me.

julieann, I hate to say this, but it can get worse. It can and just might get so thick you can't cough it out. It;s a part of this disease treatment i think. I still get to choking on it like a lot in here do but heck, we are alive . I hate that mucous too, but have to put up with it. Everyonce in awhile, I might get to coughing pretty hard from the mucous and get lucky. Not nice to say but a big gob will come out like a bullet and ease it up. Been lucky so far and it hasn't landed anywhere off limits LOL like on someone, Got ya in my prayers julieann

A silver bullet?

Thats quite a long time post tx to still be having such bad problems with the mucous juliann.

MG . it sure looks silver in the sunlite

I know. I was wondering if others have this increased mucus problem this long after my initial treatment(s) ended in Jan. 2008. I always had some mucus, but now it's really increased -also, the sweet taste is sickening and upsets my stomach. I'm seeing a new ENT doctor this week because the other one just says it's a natural reaction from radiation and offers no solutions. Also, I'm trying to get an appointment with an Oral Medicine specialist who deals with oral mucositis. One just has to keep searching and searching on their own to try to get help. Thanks for replying.

See my post in Medication, Treatment and Procedures.

It may not be mucositus this long after treatment.

If you had IMRT it can take 18 months before your salivary function fully returns. This may also be an indirect cause.