Eli.... The mucositis will be there from at least the third week of radiation, till perhaps 6-8 weeks after it stops. In most patients it becomes so severe that they cannot eat properly, their mouths are just too sore. This was definitely my case when I went through treatment. The only things that helped at all were a topical anesthetic in solution that I could swish my mouth with to numb things for awhile, and rinsing many times a day with bicarb of soda and salt in warm water. They do go away, but a person can become under nourished if they do not eat properly during this period. The tube is a sure bet. There is more about these sores and other complications in the mouth from treatment on the web site in the dental section, "Dental and oral complications from treatment".

Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.