"OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,264 Likes: 5 | Hi Joan and welcome. 6 weeks from now when youve completed your treatment you will be able to come back here and offer advice to another newbie. Please finish treatment. It's highly unpleasant - I did 33 plus chemo. Yes it's painful, yes it's uncomfortable but it can also cure you. I too had a sore mouth (though i was blessed that it wasn't as bad as some people) I had the drool, the complete lack of taste - etc... Try using cream repeatedly on your skin - diligence will pay off - find one that works... And put a little on in the morning, and more on right after treatment, later in the day and right before bed. A water pik with lukewarm water and on the very lowest setting will help you feel a little fresher and get rid of the the guck in your mouth. I also slept with a humidifier nearby, when it came time to eat I would take a pain med - use some magic mouthwash and then chug an ensure (this was towards the end as I was okay for pain up until week 6). It was quick and kept me hydrated and nourished. Prepare and carry around a bottle of flat Luke warm club soda you can rinse and swallow or the recommended baking soda you can swish and spit do this frequently!! You will get rough this - and zengalib is right, maybe ask for anti anxiety meds, take one 30 minutes before treatment. Hen go in, close your yes and tell them to crank the music and go somewhere else mentally - I practic yoga so I said mantras and treated it like a shavasna (meditation) good luck you can do this please persevere. Good luck - and no you're not a wimp - everyone handles this stuff differently. Hugs!
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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