UPDATE: Blood in Phlegm

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LumpinmyThroat
LumpinmyThroat Member Posts: 98
edited September 2015 in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Hi All,

 

Hubby is almost one year post tx.  One side effect of his treatment has been throat clearing... constant throat clearing.  They said they burned his cilia off in his trachea with the IMRT and that's why he can't clear phlegm normally.

 

Anyway, he was clearing it out tonight as usual but it had blood streaks in it!  ****.  I emailed all of his doctors photos because his next appointment is not until 9/24 and I want them to see him sooner.

 

What do you think?  Anyone have this experience 12 months post treatment?  Could he have busted a blood vessel or something clearing his throat?  I'm beside myself.  I can't imagine how he is feeling.

 

UPDATE:

The rockstar oncologist called last night and told us he didn't see anything noteworthy on the PET scan hubby had on Tuesday!  He said the radiologist still needed to read the scan, but it's looking like he is one year post treatment and cancer free!

 

The cause of the blood is unknown, but he won't be taking any more NSAIDs or asprin.  SCARY to see blood.

 

Thanks to all for the kind words and advice as always.

Comments

  • LumpinmyThroat
    LumpinmyThroat Member Posts: 98
    #2
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    Silent Aspiration

    Anybody have experience with silent aspiration?  This happened after he ate a baked hush puppy.  Seems like something he could have aspirated.

  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    #3
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    lump, i'm now a lary and wear

    lump, i'm now a lary and wear a lary tube practically 24/7.  i also have trouble with phlem.  i have also seen blood in it several times over the past 3 yrs.  the docs have never been concerned about it and it has never been much, just streaks.  so in my case, nothing to worry about and I pray it turns out to be the same for your hubby.  my personally feeling is the blood is coming from us working so hard to get the phlem up and out.  i'd keep a watch on it but wouldn't waste a lot of precious time worrying unless it became a lot of blood.  as for the other question, i have no idea.  i know others have aspirated so I'm sure you will get some answers.

    God bless,

    dj

  • LumpinmyThroat
    LumpinmyThroat Member Posts: 98
    #4
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    debbiejeanne said:

    lump, i'm now a lary and wear

    lump, i'm now a lary and wear a lary tube practically 24/7.  i also have trouble with phlem.  i have also seen blood in it several times over the past 3 yrs.  the docs have never been concerned about it and it has never been much, just streaks.  so in my case, nothing to worry about and I pray it turns out to be the same for your hubby.  my personally feeling is the blood is coming from us working so hard to get the phlem up and out.  i'd keep a watch on it but wouldn't waste a lot of precious time worrying unless it became a lot of blood.  as for the other question, i have no idea.  i know others have aspirated so I'm sure you will get some answers.

    God bless,

    dj

    Thanks, dj!

    Thank you for the reply. That makes sense to me. Capillaries are easily broken, especially with all the throat clearing all day, everyday. That could cause the small streaks. It's been over 24 hours since it happened and there hasn't been a trace of it since. Hoping that's the end of it and the scan 9/24 is good!

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,722 Member
    #5
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    ???

    LT,

     

    I am about 3 ½  years post and I still struggle with clearing my throat, usually when I need to speak. I can get pretty noisy sometimes but really never to wear I am straining or visible blood.  At one year out I would expect your hubby to be a little more tender and a little blood very possible.

    Eating I have to be more methodical, eat slowly, small bites and lots of water.  If I’m not careful I will take a deep breath right in the middle of a mouthful, scares the crap out me.

    Good luck with the do’s and don’ts.

    Matt

     

  • wmc
    wmc Member Posts: 1,804
    #6
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    It most likely be ok, but always call the Dr.

    Taling a photo is the best. Now they see what you are saying. I had silant asperation, where you do not turn red and cough it out if it went down wrong. I would cough four hours and see bacon bits that I had for breakfest. My epiglottis did not work right as my tumor was pressing on my left vocal cord. They removed my larnyx and I breath through my neck so when I cough I see it as my airway and throat have been seperated. If I get too dry of air mucus can stick to the side of your trach and when you cough it will break off and you get small traces of blood. It will stop very quickly and for me it is just my new normal. It is always good to tell the doctor so he can say it is nothing to be concerned about. With the cilia being burned he will have mors mucus as there job was to kind of walking the mucus up the trach and back so you just swallow and don't relise you are even doing it. When he drinks liquid he coughs some. That is asperating and you need to keep an eye on that. I did for months, but never got pneumonia

     

     

  • LumpinmyThroat
    LumpinmyThroat Member Posts: 98
    #7
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    More

    More blood today after 48-hours of clear phlegm. He could feel it happen on the right side of his throat. It's back. We are so devastated. FU Cancer.

  • wmc
    wmc Member Posts: 1,804
    #8
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    LumpinmyThroat said:

    More

    More blood today after 48-hours of clear phlegm. He could feel it happen on the right side of his throat. It's back. We are so devastated. FU Cancer.

    It isn't until a doctor tells you.

    When I had my tumor it only got worse, I never had any clear mucus until I had surgery. I would cough and scare my son so bad he turned white. I couched not traces but ounces, two to three ounces is what I coughed up. Don't ever give in or give up. 

    Bill

  • LumpinmyThroat
    LumpinmyThroat Member Posts: 98
    #9
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    Hoping and Praying

    I emphatically requested an appt change for this coming week instead of 9/24. I expect to hear back from someone tomorrow with the choices. If this is some tracheal ulcer or broken capillary or sinus drainage or infection or anything but cancer, it will be the best day of my life.

  • lornal
    lornal Member Posts: 428
    #10
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    LumpinmyThroat said:

    Hoping and Praying

    I emphatically requested an appt change for this coming week instead of 9/24. I expect to hear back from someone tomorrow with the choices. If this is some tracheal ulcer or broken capillary or sinus drainage or infection or anything but cancer, it will be the best day of my life.

    bloody mucus

    Drink lots of water to keep the mucus loose.  Also, blood thinners - asprin, ibuprophen, naproxin, fish oil - could cause blood in the mucus.

    Like DebbieJean and bill, I an also a laryngectomee.  We get to see our mucus close up and personal.  At one point, I think I had more blood than mucus.  I was taking Aleve.  Once I stopped, the blood stopped as well.  Of course, the knees hurt then.  Now, I just take it when desparate.

    Lorna

    2007 & 2014

  • LumpinmyThroat
    LumpinmyThroat Member Posts: 98
    #11
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    lornal said:

    bloody mucus

    Drink lots of water to keep the mucus loose.  Also, blood thinners - asprin, ibuprophen, naproxin, fish oil - could cause blood in the mucus.

    Like DebbieJean and bill, I an also a laryngectomee.  We get to see our mucus close up and personal.  At one point, I think I had more blood than mucus.  I was taking Aleve.  Once I stopped, the blood stopped as well.  Of course, the knees hurt then.  Now, I just take it when desparate.

    Lorna

    2007 & 2014

    Advil

    He took advil before it happened on Friday night. Could that really be the cause? Wouldn't that be amazing?! Still waiting for CT to be moved.

  • LumpinmyThroat
    LumpinmyThroat Member Posts: 98
    #12
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    Finally...

    The Thoracic oncologist, who is a absolute rockstar, called us back.  He is trying to arrange a PET/CT for Friday or Monday, just to make sure things are ok.  He says inflammation is still an issue at 12 months out, but blood is always something that needs to be investiaged.

  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    #13
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    LumpinmyThroat said:

    Finally...

    The Thoracic oncologist, who is a absolute rockstar, called us back.  He is trying to arrange a PET/CT for Friday or Monday, just to make sure things are ok.  He says inflammation is still an issue at 12 months out, but blood is always something that needs to be investiaged.

    while, i'm sure its probably

    while, i'm sure its probably nothing serious, i'm glad you have a proactive doctor.  that has to help you feel better.

    God bless,

    dj

  • wmc
    wmc Member Posts: 1,804
    #14
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    LumpinmyThroat said:

    Advil

    He took advil before it happened on Friday night. Could that really be the cause? Wouldn't that be amazing?! Still waiting for CT to be moved.

    Many meds thin your blood.

    Brand names: Advil, Midol, Motrin, Caldolor, NeoProfen, Ibu. Possible side effects: Headache, Nausea, Bleeding, Vomiting,Dizziness, Flatulence

    Yep that could contribute to the bleeding.

  • LumpinmyThroat
    LumpinmyThroat Member Posts: 98
    #15
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    wmc said:

    Many meds thin your blood.

    Brand names: Advil, Midol, Motrin, Caldolor, NeoProfen, Ibu. Possible side effects: Headache, Nausea, Bleeding, Vomiting,Dizziness, Flatulence

    Yep that could contribute to the bleeding.

    So many possibilities

    Still waiting for that appt.  Looks like next week at this point.  No blood since the bit on Sunday, so maybe that's that.  Thank you for always responding to these posts, WMC.  It helps so much.

  • LumpinmyThroat
    LumpinmyThroat Member Posts: 98
    #16
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    debbiejeanne said:

    while, i'm sure its probably

    while, i'm sure its probably nothing serious, i'm glad you have a proactive doctor.  that has to help you feel better.

    God bless,

    dj

    Sure it

    Yes.  Having ONE doctor that seems eager to talk, answer questions and return phone calls is awesome.  I can't say enough good things about Dr. Daniel Gomez at MDA-Houston.  He's AMAZING.

  • wmc
    wmc Member Posts: 1,804
    #17
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    LumpinmyThroat said:

    Sure it

    Yes.  Having ONE doctor that seems eager to talk, answer questions and return phone calls is awesome.  I can't say enough good things about Dr. Daniel Gomez at MDA-Houston.  He's AMAZING.

    It is always nice...........

    It's always nice to have a very good doctor, and even better when they listen and have compassion too.

    Bill

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