Hi Kelly,
I had XRT and was told I would lose alot of my salivary function, so I opted to have the daily ethyol. My treatment was 7 years ago and it was administered as a daily push (I think they inject it now). It has the potential to make you really sick, however the nausea I experienced was later in treatment and was probably a culmination of radiation and chemo, not the ethyol. My salivary function is probably at around 80%. I usually always carry a water bottle around with me, but can swallow most moist foods without water. Forget crackers though! Without water, it would take a month of sundays to swallow! eek For the most part, it is managaeable so, in my case, ethyol was worth it. Good luck to you. And where in Michigan are you from?

Kelley

SCC tonsil(left) with contralateral mets. Modified right neck disection August, 2002. 33 rads(62 gy)both sides of neck and 3 cycles cisplatin completed October 25, 2002. 34 yo at time of diagnosis