coughing up phlegm and foamy mucus

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Charlotte 3
Charlotte 3 Member Posts: 3
in Esophageal Cancer #1

Please help.... My mother was diagnosed with Esophageal/stomach cancer April 2015.  She is 87 years old this year, and surgery was not an option apparently.  She has had chemo and radiation and after those treatments was told there would be no more.  She had a g-tube inserted shortly after diagnosis and my Dad is feeding her 6 times a day at this point.  She is having a very hard time with coughing up phlegm and foamy mucus for months now.  They attempted a dilation of the esophagus but was told that because of scarring, they couldn't enlarge it.  She is not taking anything by mouth @ this point.  I saw on another site that someone had used Mucinex...she tried a small amt, but she said it burned her esophagus. She is taking Atropine eye drops on her tongue, apparently trying to dry up secretions?  Please if anyone has had to deal with this and has any suggetions, we would SO appreciate it. Thank you for listening.  God Bless all of you.

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  • LorettaMarshall
    LorettaMarshall Member Posts: 662 Member
    #2
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    Charlotte~This is a common problem but w/o a definite solution

    Dear Charlotte:

    It’s never good to read about another person diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer.  Many of us here relate to the problems your mom is having with coughing up phlegm and something like a foamy substance.  I will tell you that my husband is a survivor of Esophageal Cancer.  He has had chemo/radiation and surgery.  He has experienced the same problem.  Our oncologist suggested taking Omeprazole on a regular basis.  But that has not proven to be a solution.  Actually, I haven’t found a satisfactory remedy or answer to that problem.  All I know is that it is a common problem with those diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer.  I’m so sorry your Mom has this diagnosis. 

    Although you didn’t say the exact stage, although no consolation, at age 87, the extreme surgical surgery and recovery process is probably the reason why your mom’s doctors elected to forego it.  Of course, there can be more than one reason why surgery is not a possibility, having had the cancer spread to another major organ would be another reason.  But most often, doctors do recommend chemo and radiation.  I wish I could offer you some help, but this seems to be a problem without a sure-fire solution.  Below are some references, that will only serve to let you know that this is probably something your mom is just going to be bothered by without much of a remedy.  I don’t have a real good answer, but I do believe that anyone who writes here at least deserves acknowledgement that we have read your letter.  The links below only serve to let you know that it is a common problem, still in search of a solution.   Perhaps there are others who write here that might have a good suggestion.  Sorry I can’t be of more help.

    Sincerely,

    Loretta Marshall (Wife of William, Stage III, still a survivor of EC first diagnosed Nov. of 2012)

    Successful Ivor Lewis Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy (MIE) performed by Dr. James D. Luketich at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center May 17, 2003.

     

    1. https://cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,30757,1.htm?mid=528946

    2. https://csn.cancer.org/node/224856

    “Cher76 writes:

    “Mucous secretions

    Welcome Vatsag to our site. My husband was diagnosed with stage IV EC in October 2010. Mucous seems to be a big part of this disease, especially in stage IVs.

    My husbands doctor prescribed a medication called GLYCOPYRROLATE to help keep down the mucous secretions. This has worked fairly well. I also think sleeping elevated at night helps too…”

  • lovelife1
    lovelife1 Member Posts: 3
    #3
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    I wanted to write a story of

    I wanted to write a story of Hope, courage and fight.  On January of 2010, our world was shattered when we learned that my dad of 58 year old was diagnosed with Gastric Esophageal junction Stage III cancer.  First few days were that of helplessness, anguish, anger, sadness, and anxiety.  It came from nowhere, but looking back, my dad was showing few signs of tiredness few years earlier.  We however decided to fight back.  My family and I gather as much information as we could about the cancer.  We read stories of hope and survivor.  We told my dad about the stories of people who had survived this cancer.  We got refereed to the oncologist, radiologist.  We also were making sure that treatment is taking place as quickly as possible.  First thing we had my dad do was cut down on any sugar.  Then we had drink wheatgrass juice, eat veggies and fruit regularly.  We searched which treatment was the best effective.  The treatment we came across for this cancer was, chemotherapy first, then surgery and then chemotheraph.  My dad recieved his first chemotherapy treatment.  During this time we also provided him with supplemental natural treatment and juices.  Please search online as to which juice are good as there is nothing to lose.  We also had him eat COTTAGE CHEESE AND FLAX SEED OIL MIX.  It is called BUDWIG DIET.  Please search for it.  We think along with his chemotherapy this diet worked miracle for him.  After his first chemotherapy his tumor got really small.  My dad had surgery in May of 2010 and followed by Chemotherapy again.  Year of chemotherapies and surgery made him so weak.  We however were always positive with him.  We continued to tell him that he was going to get better.  We never told him how panic we were behind the seen.  That is the key.  Positivity and Hope gives people courage to fight and somehow helps them physically I think.  More than us he was the bravest as he fought the toughest battle and won.  We took many trips and always made sure he was relax and happy.  He did have some good days and some really bad days.  Next year he was cancer free, however in Dec 2011 we got news that they saw some nodule in his brain and lungs.  Again however, we were extremely positive with him.  We told him he can beat this too.  He had lung surgery and then gamma knife on his brain nodule.  Budwig diet continued during this phase too.  He was also taking Promongrante juice and pills form POMX.  I am not trying to advertise anything on this forum.  I just wanted to provide information on what worked for us.  In 2012 again he had to go through a surgery.  I remeber doctor saying that Gastric cancer is tought to beat, but we were already in the second year even with the brain nodule.  We kept going on trips.  We made sure he was eating limited sugar and eating healthy.  He also tried yoga and some physical activity.  His small grandaugheter are his life.  He lived for them.  I think person also needs something or something to live for.  Should be really passionate about it.  From 2013 to 2016 his CT scan and MRI came clear.  We were so gratefull.  During all this time we prayed a lot too.  Praying does work.  You just have to pray and ask for life and believe it.  He kept fighting.   He didn't have chemotherapy since 2012.  He has gone through five gamma knife, for which his doctors are in awe of.  Recently they have found some nodule again in his brain, but again we are sure he will beat them.  We are going to be positive, make sure he is getting required treatment, make sure he eats budwig diet, turmeric pills, pomongranate pills and pray a lot.  If you are someone whos love won is fighting please don't give up hope.  You have to be strong so that they can fight.  Be positive around them.  Helped them as much as you can.  It can take toll on you too, so please take care of yourself.  There is lots of information out there.  Complete the treatment but also try natual therapies.  Please please give them hope and Pray.  It works.  Please read about BUDWIG DIET. 

     

    God Bless

  • Charlotte 3
    Charlotte 3 Member Posts: 3
    #4
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    thank you

    Thank you all for your compassion, suggestions, and stories.  You are very kind.  God Bless You all.

  • savo49
    savo49 Member Posts: 1
    #5
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    Charlotte 3 said:

    thank you

    Thank you all for your compassion, suggestions, and stories.  You are very kind.  God Bless You all.

    Throat cancer

    I was diagnosed with SCC cancer on my vocal chords in 2013.  I had surgery then 6 weeks of radiation.  Now in 2017 I am clear of cancer but am having enormous difficulty with a thick build up of a clear mucous that I can't clear.  My throats is red raw.  I haven't had a decent nights sleep in 3 years and I am at wits end to where this drama will end.  I have been to three ENT specialists and have been told this is normal and that there is nothing they can prescribe or do for me.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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