Question: My husband had 35 radiation treatments for throat cancer which ended 4and a half months ago. He had trouble swallowing and was coughing up a lot of mucus by the end of treatment. The symptons got better after three weeks and he was feeling better for maybe three weeks. Then the mucous production started up again and the difficulty swallowing started getting worse. His primary care doctors office closed suddenly about six weeks ago and we have not been able to get into another yet but have an apt for next month. The cancer treatment office put him on a scopoline patch to reduce the mucous production but he has since had more coughing and the swallowing has gotten so bad he can barely eat anything. He has a appt for a barium swallow later this
week. Was wondering if the patch actually stops mucous production or just dries it up and makes it harder to cough up and may be making the throat feel worse. The info on the scopoline doesn't seem to answer this question and the pharmacist wasn't sure.was thinking of removing the patch as there doesn't seem to be much improvement. He is seeing his cancer specialist soon also but the weight loss and weakness has gotten a lot worse suddenly. He is eating pureed foods and protein shakes but they are hard to get down also. Would just like to know about the action of the scopoline. Am thinking it may be making things worse. Has been on it for about two weeks and has lost another 9 lbs..