Hi

My husband started radiotherapy last week, and had a session of chemo on Tuesday last week, one of 3 he will have over the next 6 weeks of radiotherapy.

He now produces very thick phlegm, which is making him nauseous.

Can anyone suggest ways of helping with this?

Thanks

Hello Busby

(1) To clear thick saliva from the back of the throat, try gargling with warm water. A pinch of salt (1/8tsp) and two pinches of baking soda (1/4tsp) in a glass of water helps thin the saliva).

(2) You will find the discussion on mucus help (tenacious phlegm/saliva) useful, some members have found Mucodyne helpful.

Best wishes
Vinod

Hi Busby
I finished my treatment in June 05 and I suffered with this phlegm. Gross though it sounds, spit it up, don't swallow as I found this made me gag or wash the mouth round with water and spit out I found this seems to clear it on the short term. I also used Mucodyne which I am sure helped big time. My Oncologist didn't suggest or prescribe it but the Palliative Nurses at my local hospice did. I found they are a great source of info and support as they meet all sorts of people who differing symptons etc. maybe asked your GP to refer you as mine did.
Also the Mucodyne comes in tablet or liquid form, as I couldn't swallow properly I opted for the liquid which smells disgusting and put me off using it but luckily I had a PEG and could use that.
I hope your husband doesn't suffer to long with this, mine was worse after the treatment not during and I was told it would take to 4 to 6 weeks to rectify as it is all to do with your salivary glands starting to not work and other compensating for these.
Good Luck & Take Care
Yvonne

Busby,

My husband also had lots of thick mucus, very much during radiation/chemo treatment, but also afterwards. In fact, he still does and he's one year out... however it's not as thick now and is much more managable. When a person is already experiencing nausea and overall weakness from the treatments (particularly when receiving both chemo and radiation), the mucus can be particularly troublesome and quite nauseating. Also there usually comes a time during treatment that the throat is too sore to swallow as often as one needs to keep the mucus cleared. My husband can now swallow his secretions most all the time (and uses tissues only rarely)... but, back during treatment, and for several months after, he cleared the mucus with a suctioning machine. During periods when he was hospitalized, I made certain that his oncologist ordered suctioning in the room (which was just a hand-held suctioning "wand" that rested on the bed by my husband's pillow and he could grab and use for his mouth as needed, attached by tubing to a vacuum system on the wall above. A cannister held the waste and nurses emptied it. We also had a portable suctioning unit at home that the doctor ordered per my request which comes from companies that issue home medical equipment/supplies. Our insurance covered it no problem but, if you ever want one, checking first with your insurance may be a good idea. The machine is a little noisy when it is turned on at night which may disturb other's sleep, but better than the patient getting sick on the stomach from mucus build up. The suctioning machine was a godsend for us.

There may be times when a patient feels as though the mucus may be interfering with the airway and experiences a "choking" sensation... although it is usually cleared with an aggressive cough. Not long into treatment, I had my husband sleeping in a recliner so that his head was somewhat elevated to help prevent that from occurring. On most mornings when he awoke, there was a period of trying to clear his throat and, in doing so, he would begin to gag to the point of almost regurgitating. I had a prescription at home for Zofran, which I think helped his a.m. nausea/gagging somewhat, but it still was a persistent issue. It was very frightening for me when he gagged to the point of almost passing out... but, that never happened and I just had to get used to the whole morning scene, comforting him as best I could and sponging his face with cool cloths after an episode. It does get better. Treatment doesn't last forever, although you think it will never end when you're going through it.

I hope this has helped. Since your husband is the patient, you are likely a caregiver... so, feel free to email me (also a caregiver) any time you like. I now have lots'a tips and secrets! Take extra good care of yourself... as much as you can during this challenging time. You are not alone.

quote:

Originally posted by busby:
Hi

My husband started radiotherapy last week, and had a session of chemo on Tuesday last week, one of 3 he will have over the next 6 weeks of radiotherapy.

He now produces very thick phlegm, which is making him nauseous.

Can anyone suggest ways of helping with this?

Thanks

Hmmmm Peroxide gargle and no nuts of any kind. may be bacteria found in nuts or bacteria period phlegm is a defense.

Oh, Tommy Troll!

We are having or have had radiation and/or surgery to our oral cavities. We are not eating nuts. Get a clue.

Go away.

Peroxide garlgle on a radiated mouth? Ouch!!!!

The age old Soda/salt water rinses are hard to beat.One teaspoon of baking soda/one teaspoon salt topped up with warm water helps to cut through the mucous,which becomes stringy and tenacious during and for some time after radiotherapy.you can use this solution as often as you need .I would love to know anyone here who has been able to eat nuts after RT lol

liz

Im sorry Guys that wasnt ment as bad please forgive me and I know nothing about this stuff but thick phlegm is what i saw in google post and signed up and responded with out thinking... hey radiotherapy is not preparation for voice overs.
Im such a Nut! Again I apologize and if nothing else I hope my stupidity has made you smile.

quote:

Originally posted by busby:
Hi

My husband started radiotherapy last week, and had a session of chemo on Tuesday last week, one of 3 he will have over the next 6 weeks of radiotherapy.

He now produces very thick phlegm, which is making him nauseous.

Can anyone suggest ways of helping with this?

Thanks

my husband is into weeke 4 of 6 with radiotherapy and having awful problems with thick mucus stuff in his throat sometimes he wretches and is almost sick trying to shift it

You could try using a a vacuum suction device with a oral suction tip like Suction-Easy to physically suck out the sticky saliva/mucus.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dr Vinod K Joshi,

I have a vacuum pump but have only used it to suction within my mouth. How could it be used to suction my throat? I have lots of mucus build up in my throat that I would like to get rid of.

Trying to force it up by doing the reverse swallow causes my gag reflex to kick in and I tent to vomit.

I have a BMX medication that I can use to numb my mouth. Can I use this to numb my throat enough to disable the gag reflex?

BTW: I'm 2 weeks out from radiation and 3 weeks out from chemotherapy.

Jim

Hi Jim,

I completed 35 radiotherapy sessions at the end of July 2008. For a couple of months after treatment my throat was full of mucus and I was forever trying to clear my throat and gagging. The radiotherapy is still working in your body after treatment in hospital and hence that's why it seems to get worse for a while. I did not use a pump but slowly over time it get's better. My throat is clear today. I know it's not easy but please keep going and it will get easier with time.

regards

Ken

Thanks for the reply Ken. I was hoping to hear that the mucus buildup would be there for a shorter time than 2 months. Even so, thanks for the positive feedback that you are mucus free now.

The problem is caused by the change in the composition of saliva. A lot of effort is spent in modern radiotherapy in trying to avoid the parotid glandsand this has been proven to be helpful: most recently in an important UK trial PARSPORT. The parotid glands are important in producing saliva particularly when eating.
Although this undoubtedly helps people it ignores the fact that the submandibular glands (tucked under the chin) are probably more important when it comes to resting salivation (keeping the mouth moist the rest of the time). They do this by producing a saliva which lubricates. During treatment the composition of the saliva changes so it becomes more sticky and thick.
At night we continue to produce saliva which we normally swallow unawares in our sleep. This new sticky saliva is more difficult to swallow (if not impossible) so instead of being swallowed it pools in the throat in the little recesses above the voicebox (larynx). There the saliva irritates and often produces a strong cough reflex. As the cough goes into action to try and shift the saliva up and out (it won't go down) it will sometimes clog on the back of the throat and trigger a gag reflex : all very nasty.

One potential solution is to use a bicarbonate solution as suggested above and gargle/rinse with this before bed and if necessary in the night to clear and spit out the thick stuff before it accumulates. Suction clearly could work to help int he same way.

Really interesting.

I also recommend the Bicarbonate of Soda solution. I was gargling with it about six times per day during and after treatment. Still use it once or twice per day to stop ulcers.

Best wishes

Ken