My husband tolerated the amifostine (Ethyol) very well...it was administered subcutaneously 15 minutes before radiation. He was to drink 16-32 ounces of water and take his anti-nausea medication 1 1/2 to 2 hours before the shot.

He has plenty of saliva and we feel (doctor, too) that it helped with some of the side affects of the radiation therapy. He just finished 8 weeks....maxed out.

Medicare will not pay for it unless you are post-op. It's about 760$ per shot.