Thank you so much for replying. We will press on with all the advice and try everything. Dave does use gelclair, rinse to numb the mouth and oxycaine to line the throat, prior to eating, I expect they are the English equivalents. I suppose neither of us realised how devastating and debilitating the radiotherapy would be, so I'm encouraged when I read that we aren't the only ones. Thank you again, I will keep in touch.