Oh Betty, what you have both been through! My heart goes out to you both.

Regarding your first question, the recipe is 1 tsp. of baking soda and 1 tsp. of salt to one quart of warm water. I find this very soothing as I go through radiation. I mix it in a water bottle, and it cools, which I find just as good. Don't know why the instructions say "warm." I have been told to swish and spit with this many times per day, at least a dozen or more.

I am missing lymph nodes on the right side. There was a great deal of swelling, which I managed to reduce with what is called Lateral Massage. With two fingers, gently massage up and down, then back and forth, over the swollen areas. Do not sleep on the swollen side. I saw a pretty rapid reduction using this method. Other than the scar, there is now not much difference from the other side.

You can count on more informed people answering your other question.

Best of luck to you!

Joanna