Excessive Mucus with Esophageal Cancer

Posted by russparsons @russparsons, Oct 26, 2021

Does anyone suffer from excessive mucus after eating or drinking. I was diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer one year ago. I started off with chemo, which did nothing and was switched to Keytruda every 3 weeks which has worked wonders. I am still stage 4 though. I was told that what I have is treatable, but not curable. I guess I can live with that. I have this excessive amount of mucus when I eat or drink. Does anyone else have this, and if you do, how do you deal with it?

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ricem3627 | @ricem3627 | Nov 28, 2021

This was the concern I brought to my GP prior to being diagnosed with cancer. I would literally choke on my own saliva. Now, six months later, I have been through radiation/chemo and surgery. The excessive mucus is a sign that a doctor's advice is probably needed.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Nov 5, 2021

In reply to @russparsons "I've neve heard od HBO Therapy, what is it? And thank you so much for the..." + (show)

Here's more information about hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy.
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy/about/pac-20394380

russparsons | @russparsons | Nov 3, 2021

In reply to @colleenyoung "I'd like to add my welcome, @russparsons. I see you already got a helpful response from..." + (show)

I've neve heard od HBO Therapy, what is it? And thank you so much for the welcome.

pellaw | @pellaw | Nov 1, 2021

I have not experienced the mucus since my esophagectomy. Prior to surgery I did experience excessive mucus when eating things that were on the dry side. It was like the mucus came to aid my swallowing then would subside.

Lori57216 | @lori57216 | Oct 30, 2021

In reply to @colleenyoung "I'd like to add my welcome, @russparsons. I see you already got a helpful response from..." + (show)

Milk and milk products( dairy ) create mucus. I've been coughing up mucus also but not alot at once. I've been taking Mucinex to help to break it up and expel it.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Oct 29, 2021

I'd like to add my welcome, @russparsons. I see you already got a helpful response from @mindyt. Mindy, would you mind describing what hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy is like and how it helped?

I also wonder if fellow members @pellaw @cobraguy223 @hearttoheart1 @lori57216 and @fracturedd might have experiences and tips to add about dealing with excessive mucus with esophageal cancer.

Russ, do you notice a difference in the amount of mucus depending on what foods or drinks you consume? Are there some you just stay away from?

mindyt | @mindyt | Oct 27, 2021

I am almost 1 1/2 years from treatment - I like you especially at the beginning had lots of mucus, for me it was exhausting coughing non stop from the mucus - I was able to to HBO therapy at 6 months cancer clear, after a few treatments I was healing - mucus was under control taste buds came back it was amazing. So now I get increased mucus after I eat and drink also but you can google foods that cause increased mucus production and foods that do not - this is really helping me and this is where I am - one more thing I’m learning - deep breathing it can clear - help with Speach - everything. I hope this helps ….