Excessive saliva?

BPSandy
BPSandy Member Posts: 4
edited March 2014 in Esophageal Cancer #1
Hello- My husband has esophageal/stomach cancer and just had his 3rd chemo treatment this week (oxalyplatin & epirubicin), plus he takes 2500 mg of xeloda orally every day. A few days after his 1st chemo he started producing lots of extra saliva, and it is really bothering him. Has anyone else experienced this? His doctors can't figure it out; tried a scopalamine patch in hopes that would dry him out; also benadryl and mucinex. All had neglible results. He probably spits out 1.5 to 2 cups a day. Read the other posts about fatigue- he is really tired for 3-5 days after chemo, then slowly regains his strength and stamina in time for the next round of chemo. Also, he really dreads swallowing the xelodas- they seem to get bigger each time.

Comments

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #2
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • BPSandy
    BPSandy Member Posts: 4
    #3
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    spitting
    Hi Sherri-
    Thank you for taking the time to reply- this will give my husband some hope! He goes for a PET scan in 2 weeks so we will see if the cancer is shrinking. Of course that is what we are praying for. Thanks for the tip about adderall too. VERY glad that your husband's tumor is gone.
    -Sandy
  • K_ann1015
    K_ann1015 Member Posts: 500
    #4
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Adderall
    Hi Sherri,

    Does the Adderall lessen your husband's appetite? I'd love to suggest it to my dad, but know that it can in some folks affect their appetite---he can't afford that..
    Kim
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #5
    K_ann1015 said:

    Adderall
    Hi Sherri,

    Does the Adderall lessen your husband's appetite? I'd love to suggest it to my dad, but know that it can in some folks affect their appetite---he can't afford that..
    Kim

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • Caballero38
    Caballero38 Member Posts: 35
    #6
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Extra saliva
    Hi, I'm not sure if your husban had an esophagectomy yet, but when I was going through Radiation & chemo my body produced extra saliva. My doctor told me it was my bodies natural reaction to the trauma caused in the esophagus by the radiation. I was spitting up about 32 oz a day. It all went away after the surgery just like my doc said it would.

    I will keep him my prayers,
    Luis Rodriguez
  • mumphy
    mumphy Member Posts: 440
    #7
    Caballero38 said:

    Extra saliva
    Hi, I'm not sure if your husban had an esophagectomy yet, but when I was going through Radiation & chemo my body produced extra saliva. My doctor told me it was my bodies natural reaction to the trauma caused in the esophagus by the radiation. I was spitting up about 32 oz a day. It all went away after the surgery just like my doc said it would.

    I will keep him my prayers,
    Luis Rodriguez

    Bodies natural reaction!
    Hi,

    There are several things going on. The body produces more mucous when irratated, the esophagus actually will swell as it is killing the cancer inside of it which will produce more mucous, basically the mucous comes from the cancer and the irratation that it causes.

    The good thing is it will slow down gradually as the tumor shrinks.
    I don't know if husband has a stent or not but that will also irritate the esophagus.

    Lemonaide or papaya juice has been known to help.

    I hope this helps a little.

    God Bless,
    Kath aka Mumphy
  • BPSandy
    BPSandy Member Posts: 4
    #8
    Caballero38 said:

    Extra saliva
    Hi, I'm not sure if your husban had an esophagectomy yet, but when I was going through Radiation & chemo my body produced extra saliva. My doctor told me it was my bodies natural reaction to the trauma caused in the esophagus by the radiation. I was spitting up about 32 oz a day. It all went away after the surgery just like my doc said it would.

    I will keep him my prayers,
    Luis Rodriguez

    Extra saliva
    Hi Luis-
    Thank you for your answer and especially your prayers. Frank has not had an esophagectomy. His surgeon said he couldn't do it because the cancer had spread to his stomach. He is having his 4th chemo treatment tomorrow, but the good news is that a PET scan last week shows a 50% shrinkage. I'm glad you've had good results, and you have given Frank and I hope. Thanks! We'll pray for you too.
    -Sandy
  • BPSandy
    BPSandy Member Posts: 4
    #9
    mumphy said:

    Bodies natural reaction!
    Hi,

    There are several things going on. The body produces more mucous when irratated, the esophagus actually will swell as it is killing the cancer inside of it which will produce more mucous, basically the mucous comes from the cancer and the irratation that it causes.

    The good thing is it will slow down gradually as the tumor shrinks.
    I don't know if husband has a stent or not but that will also irritate the esophagus.

    Lemonaide or papaya juice has been known to help.

    I hope this helps a little.

    God Bless,
    Kath aka Mumphy

    Excess saliva answer
    Hi Kath-
    Thanks for taking the time to answer. It does sound logical. Frank doesn't have a stent. I'm buying lemondae and papaya juice tomorrow! According to a PET scan last week, the cancer has shrunk so maybe we will see a reduction in spit soon.
    Thanks,
    -Sandy
  • esihle
    esihle Member Posts: 2
    edited December 2017 #10
    stomach cancer.

    My mother was diagnos with stomach cancer. And she had a first chemo last month.our problem is that she splitting lots of saliva.shes lost a lot of weight. Shes very weak.can someone help us on how to stop or rather reduce the splitting.

  • esihle
    esihle Member Posts: 2
    edited December 2017 #11
    My mother is having a similar

    My mother is having a similar problem and shes taking xeloda as well. Can u plz help. Wat did your husband used to stop the saliva. Plz help

  • Deathorglory
    Deathorglory Member Posts: 364 Member
    edited December 2017 #12
    Hello esihle

    Hello esihle,

    I see that you just joined this site.  I'll offer a little help that might help you find an answer better.  This thread is from 2010.  None of the people who have posted on this thread have been active here since 2010.  You won't get any input from them.  If you click on the posters name, you'll be told the last time they were online here.  There is a much more current thread with ideas and posters who are currently active on the site.  It's a few below this one.  It is titled "Excessive mouth mucous during last stages of chemo/radiation tx."  That thread was opened last month and has been posted on just a week or so ago.  I think you'll have better luck there.  

    I wish I had something specific to offer you about your mother's problem, but it's never been an issue for me so I have nothing.

    Best wishes to your family,

    Ed

  • paul61
    paul61 Member Posts: 1,391 Member
    #13
    Perhaps Atropine might help

    Hello esihle,

    I am so sorry you are dealing with excessive saliva, unfortunately it is a rather common side effect of Xeloda (capecitabine), particularly in females. While I have no personal experience, some people have suggested they found relief in using a drug called Atropine.

    Atropine is a drug commonly found in eye drops but they can be prescribed off label to be placed under the tongue (sublingual). Some oncologists may avoid prescribing it because it may cause dizziness and blurred vision. Another drug that contains Atropine that is commonly prescribed to chemotherapy patients is Lomotil. But you would not want to take Lomotil unless you were also having diarrhea as it is an anti-diarrheal. Some people have also found using a mouth wash several times a day is helpful. I would suggest a conversation with her oncologist to see if she supports medication based intervention with one of the methods above. Sometimes these things don’t get addressed unless they are specifically discussed with either her oncologist or her chemotherapy nurse.  

    Best Regards,

    Paul Adams

    McCormick, South Carolina

    DX 10/2009 T2N1M0  Stage IIB - Ivor Lewis Surgery  12/3/2009
    Post Surgery Chemotherapy 2/2009 – 6/2009 Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU
    Eight Year Survivor

    Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance!

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