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My dad just started radiation for tonsil and neck cancer. He is having difficult eating and swallowing due to reduced saliva. I know that this is a complication of the radiation but does anyone have any suggestions on how to help reduce this side effect. Thank you.

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How many rads has he had?


David

Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
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He will have his 6th treatment tomorrow (has 38 left) and just felt the lack of saliva effects the most starting on Friday. He is also losing his sense of taste as well.

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It's way too soon for this lack of saliva issue to present itself. Most all of us don't encounter the "dry mouth" until near or after the end of radiation. Also it's surprising that he will be getting 44 rad sessions as most of us get 35 so I can only guess that each of his rad sessions are less that we typically get which would cause less damage this early. Doesn't make sense at all to me.

Definitely discuss this with his rad doc. How is his taste? Is his throat sore? Can he just drink more fluids to overcome his lack of saliva? He can also try Biotene gum (Walmart is the cheapest).


David

Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
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I agree with David, it seems awfully early for dry mouth. There are a couple of prescription rinses that might help. Caphosol was one I used. As I recall it's pretty expensive however, so that's certainly a consideration depending on what kind of insurance you have. But rinsing with baking soda in water is helpful too and a lot cheaper.

Good thoughts to both of you and keep us posted, ok?


David 2
SCC of occult origin 1/09 (age 55)| Stage III TXN1M0 | HPV 16+, non-smoker, moderate drinker | Modified radical neck dissection 3/09 | 31 days IMRT finished 6/09 | Hit 14 years all clear in 6/23 | Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome kicked in a few years after treatment and has been progressing since | Prostate cancer diagnosis 10/18
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Hi Maureen, your father has dry mouth too early in treatment. While everyone is unique, please do discuss with RO.

As David said, use Baking Soda + water as mouthwash to help.


Father; 67 yrs; RIP: 2012/05/26

TX:SCC pT2N1M0G2;Glossectomy+SND+CCRT(59.3Gy+6xCis.)[2009]
TX:Nodal Mets; 3xDCF[2011/05/05]
TX: RND + PMMC Flap[2011/07/11]
DX:SCC PNI+ECE
TX:Re-RT 60Gy[2011/09/21]
TX:Gefitinib 250mg[2011/12/18]
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Dry mouth this early could be a side effect of medication...


Jennifer (39)
02/10 SCCa Tongue & Base, HPV-
03/10 Partial Glossectomy & ND 11/10 Revision due to additional nodes 12/20-2/2/11 IMRT & concommitant chemo 2/11 PEG in 3/11 PEG out
Back at work and feeling good 03/24/11!
12/20/11 - 9 month f/u PET/CT - all clear!
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Hi, "Radiation, the gift that keeps on giving".
I've been relegated to a forever diet of slurpies & purees, have found you can make slurpies of absolutely anyting, with a good powerful blender.
I've slurpied Teriyaki, with extra sauce; whole wheat bread & milk; favorite is bran muffins & coffee/tea/milk/mountain dew.
No limit to what you can do, just use your imagination, try to mix a liquid that goes with the food, carrot/celery/packaged salads go with anything, condensed soup give lots of juice to puree most things.
I've found wheat noodles cause slipperiness, swallows things like pills easily.

OH yeah, warm liquids ease throat muscles, makes swallowing easier.
Good luck, Good Health

Last edited by seattlepaul; 02-13-2012 07:35 PM.

69yo male, Steam Engineer, Me=4,SCC=0, loving wife, living life as it comes (no other option)
We are all born from Mother, but live and die alone.
Make the best of it, Mommie did all she could, daddy was just a guidance councelor, the rest is ALL up to you.
...and now, 3rd occurance: Surgery 5/1/12
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Awesome Seattle Paul! As for Maureen, meds are a very real possibility! Radiation - I guess it depends on his overall health and where they are radiating him... As for help.. Biotene products or as Paul said eat foods with a drink, some things needs thicker drink, mayb chocolate milk but usually that helps or slurpies and shakes... Good luck!


Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
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Also to help with dryness, I keep hard candy (sugar free) and water will help too.


Female- Age 49, Non-smoker, I Had 6 weeks of rad/30 treatments, No Chemo.
1/2 of my tongue had to be removed as well as Lymph Nodes. Surgery was 11 & 1/2 Hours long. 40 Lymph Nodes where removed, only one was cancerous. smile

My Motto since my diagnoses- It's All In The Attitude!!!
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What I've found to be the most effective for the dry mouth and thick secretions is bottled flavored ( Lemon ) soda water sold at Walmart as " Clear " for about 69 cents a 33.8 oz bottle. I swish it in the morning and the fizz cuts through the thick secretions leaving the mouth clear. Has no sugar!! I sip it from a cup all day long.... been a life saver for me. Give it a try and there are many flavors to choose from.

Last edited by Jack Snodgrass; 04-02-2012 08:03 AM.

64 YO M Non Smoker ,light drinker Dx 11/11 SCC Stg IV BOT/L
Tx Carboplatin & Docetaxel weekly and Rad daily X 7 weeks
PEG in 2/12 out 6/12
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For the thick secretions (which will come after radiation), try a Water Pik to completely clear your mouth. Just lean over the sink with your mouth open and let it do its work. Keep your eyes closed - it is gross.

I used Coke Zero to cut through the thickness, and for dry mouth nothing beats water, water, and more water. I have tried the various dry mouth remedies and have not found one yet that is effective and user friendly.

Good luck.

Donna


Donna,69, SCC L Tongue T2N1MO Stg IV 4/04 w/partial gloss;32 radtx; T2N2M0 Stg IV; R tongue-2nd partial gloss w/graft 10/07; 30 radtx/2 cispl 2/08. 3rd Oral Cancer surgery 1/22 - Stage 1. 2022 surgery eliminated swallowing and bottom left jaw. Now a “Tubie for Life”.no food envy - Thank God! Surviving isn't easy!!!! .Proudly Canadian - YES, UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE IS WONDERFUL! (Not perfect but definitely WONDERFUL)
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Donna ;
I agree with you though I didn't use a water pick. I think its the carbonation in the soda that cuts through the thick secretions..... It sure works though.


64 YO M Non Smoker ,light drinker Dx 11/11 SCC Stg IV BOT/L
Tx Carboplatin & Docetaxel weekly and Rad daily X 7 weeks
PEG in 2/12 out 6/12
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Soda hurt Kevin like crazy. Still does. He can't do anything with carbonation. Isn't it funny how we're all different?


Kathy wife/caregiver to:
Kevin age:53
Dx 7/15/11
HPV16+ SCC Stage IV BOT/R
Non smoker, casual drinker
7/27/11 Cistplatin, taxotere,5FU 2/3week sessions, followed by IMRT 125cgy x 60 (2x daily) w/Erbitux weekly. Last rad 10/26/11. Last Erbitux 10/27/11
PEG placed 9/1/11 Removed 11/8/11
Clear PET 10/12 and 10/13 and ct in 6/14
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