Mucus

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Hi

I've finished treatment 5 weeks ago 

had 6 weeks RT for base of tongue cancer 

I am still spitting up mucus and my voice is faint

how long did people have this for please?

thanks

Stephen

  • Hi the mucus lasted for me until around week 10 when it went as quickly wit came to be replaced with the dreaded dry mouth. Personally I had no voice issues but many do. 

    Well done on getting through treatment. 

    recovery does take time but it’s worth it. 

    best wishes 

    Hazel 

    Hazel aka RadioactiveRaz 

    My blog is www.radioactiveraz.wordpress.com  HPV 16+ tonsil cancer Now  6 years  post treatment. 35 radiotherapy 2 chemo T2N2NM.Happily getting on with living always happy to help

    2 videos I’ve been involved with raising awareness of HNC and HPV cancers 

    https://www.instagram.com/merckhealthcare/reel/DBs8Y0niJ8N/

  • Hi Stephen.

    My fella is seven weeks post RT and still having problems with copious mucous secretions.  They're tough and really stringy but we knew it would be like this following treatment and are waiting for it to normalise.

    Try and drink plenty of fluids as it helps to loosen it somewhat, and spit it out if possible rather than swallowing it.  You could also try sugar free gum to encourage saliva.

    My H has a different cancer and has to use a nebuliser several times a day and takes carbocisteine x 3 per day to expel it from his lungs.  He'll have to do this for life.

    Hopefully, your problem will calm down eventually but be patient as it could be a lengthy haul.  Good luck.

    Gill xx 

  • Thank you Hazel

    i don’t get a dry mouth but a dry throat at night

    Did you get this?

  • I was given Caphosol for mucus issues, it helped me a lot.

    M

  • Hi  

    I had sticky mucous till about 12 weeks and it largely disappeared over the following 2. Simply sipping fizzy water or diet cola helped tremendously; that and spitting a lot. A few times I tried steaming over hot water with a towel around my head but I’m not convinced it did much. 
    That was followed by a dry mouth that took a year to resolve enough to be comfortable. 

    i don’t get a dry mouth but a dry throat at night

    That will come. 
    The reason is that RT has a huge impact on the major salivary glands. Saliva is made up of two portions. Water and mucous. The watery portion takes much much longer to recover so at first you get a sticky mouth then later a dry one. 
    Recover is never complete but it is manageable. I’m ok through the day but get dry at night, primarily because I sleep with my mouth open but also because saliva production naturally drops off at night. 

    Dani 

    Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019

    I BLOGGED MY TREATMENT 

    Macmillan Support Line -  0808 808 00 00 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

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  • Thanks Dani, that really helps :) 

  • Hi yes I did was an expert at sipping water practically in my sleep. Once dry mouth started I found xyimelts invaluable I still use 1/2 of one  every night I’m 7 years oust treatment now. 
    wr can’t get on prescription but can get cst free  if we buy from Hope to sleep online company  there’s a box to put in why yih need them  you havec ti search for Ora coat 

    I’ll looking for link you  might not get on with them but many if us do  when if you get dry miuth

    Hazel 

    Hazel aka RadioactiveRaz 

    My blog is www.radioactiveraz.wordpress.com  HPV 16+ tonsil cancer Now  6 years  post treatment. 35 radiotherapy 2 chemo T2N2NM.Happily getting on with living always happy to help

    2 videos I’ve been involved with raising awareness of HNC and HPV cancers 

    https://www.instagram.com/merckhealthcare/reel/DBs8Y0niJ8N/