| | Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 5 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 5 | Hi I'm Rich45 and I will start radiation for SCC - BOT on Tuesday, July 6. I have a couple of questions concerning radiation.
Has anyone heard of or tried using gauze in the mouth during radiation to help reduce mouth sores?
What are some of the best lotions or creams to ease neck pain?
Thank you in advance. I just found this wonderful site and it is a blessing. | | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Welcome to OCF. Most people that come here scan all the forums for new posts, so please only post your questions in one location, it will get seen.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,912 Likes: 52 OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,912 Likes: 52 | Someone mentioned this awhile ago, and I'm not sure how that would help things. Radiation goes right through skin, muscle, bone, even teeth, so I'm not sure how having a little cotton in your mouth would change the exposure to the damaging effects of the radiation to the soft tissues of your mouth. If someone knows more about this please correct me if I am wrong. As to the cremes I will let someone more currently in treatment answer as things have changed a bit since I was nuked.
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.
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Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 5 | Brian, thanks for the reply. I never dreamed that gauze between the teeth and gums would help prevent sores, but a gentlemen I met that just finished his radiation told me he used gauze and did not have problems with sores. I was also browsing through some other forums and saw another person that had success. I don't know if it is a fluke or there is benefit gained from using gauze. | | | | | Joined: May 2007 Posts: 666 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: May 2007 Posts: 666 | I so not know the specifics of how this was done, but using gauze could be used to displace lips and part of the cheeks (slightly from the irradiated volume).
This may be IMRT specific.
... of course, it is always possible that the person would not have gotten sores anyway regardless of gauze or not. FYI, I used cotton rolls and did not get sores where I placed them, although I got them in other places. Realistically this might also be depend on the precise location of the radiated volume.
M
Last edited by Markus; 07-01-2010 06:03 PM.
Partial glossectomy (25%) anterior tongue. 4/6/07/. IMRT start @5/24/07 (3x) Erbitux start/end@ 5/24/07. IMRT wider field (30x) start 6/5/07. Weekly cisplatin (2x30mg/m2), then weekly carbo- (5x180mg/m2). End of Tx 19 July 07.
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,912 Likes: 52 OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,912 Likes: 52 | I postred a news story in the last day about radiation bouncing off of titanium implants in patient's mouths. It has a scattering effect on the radiation to the surrounding tissue. I don't know if this could be an issue with amalgam fillings or metal, or porcelain to metal crowns; perhaps keeping the lips/cheeks away from the close by scatter? I am surprised that if this was a known positive effect, that we don't hear about it from most treating institutions.
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.
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 5 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 5 | It seems worth discussing with my doctor and staff when I go for my final simulation on Monday. I am blessed that I have already completed all the chemo and am 3 weeks removed from that as to where the side effects have nearly subsided.
I'm sorry if the posts show up more than once. I am new to the sight, not the best with a computer and am having a little trouble moving around the sight. | | |
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