Stage 3-4 Squamous cell BOT. Had spread to nearby lymph node. 1st ENT recommended surgery followed by radiation (and chemo?) Radiation Doc and Chemo doc said no need for surgery and 2nd ENT agreed. Highly recommended Chemo Doc suggested intensive in-patient Chemo followed by radiation with one 45 min.out-patient chemo per week. I week of 24/7 cisplatin followed by two weeks of recovery repeated two times. The last time, one month recovery before radiation began. 7 weeks of radiation five days a week.

I'm now five weeks out of radiation and feeding with a PEG tube. I can drink water easily but anything else by mouth reacts with my sore throat. I was first put on Oxycodone, then Oxycontin, then Fentanyl and then Morphine added. Nothing had any affect on the sore throat so I discontinued them. Pain has been a constant with or w./o and doesn't seem to be diminishing. Not too painful, just annoying and keeping me from getting off the feeding tube which requires 4 half hour feedings at least three hours apart.

Dry mouth is really annoying. My Docs said that water (tho extremely necessary to keep hydrated) does nothing for dry mouth but does help keep phlegm moister. A humidifier has been a big help for me at night here in Nevada.

I lucked out in connecting with an inactive OCF member and OC survivor who told me that she had acupuncture for dry mouth and it was very successful. Researching that on-line I see that the efficacy has been confirmed by many studies. Mayo, Sloan-Kettering and MDAnderson have all been involved in studies. I'm currently working with a local acupuncturist but am trying to locate an acupuncture protocol that is more current than 2000, the one my new found friend used.

Has anyone undergone acupuncture treatment for dry mouth? If so, what protocol did your acupuncturist use?

Thanks