Welcome to OCF! Your father should be on some type of pain meds to help him manage the pain. Many of us have used magic mouthwash to help numb the mouth so we could eat. Its only temporary and will need a prescription to get it at the pharmacy. Magic mouthwash should be swished and spit out, swallowing the formula can numb the throat and he could have issues with choking. Magic mouthwash can have a few different forumals too so thats why some are told to swallow it and other to spit it out. My MM was made up of benedryl, malox and lidocaine.

Hyperbaric oxygen treatments (HBO) are not normally used to recover from chemo and rads. Its most commonly used to prevent osteoradionecrosis by doing 20 prior to and 10 after any dental extractions (Marx Protocol). After rads it can be pretty common to have patients have dental issues and need to have teeth removed.

Time is what it takes to recover from what your father has been thru. Keep up at least 2500 calories every single day and at least 48 oz of water daily for the first year after finishing treatments. It really does take a year to bounce back. Most patients are pretty good 3 months post rads, even better 6 months post rads. It can take a full 2 years for a complete recovery. The sense of taste will come and go for months. Some patients notice subtle changes even 2 years post rads. At that point, its pretty much as good as it will be.

Many patients become frustrated at the speed of their recovery. It can be very disheartening to try and try and still not be well weeks after finishing rads. Adding some high protein whey powder to his diet can help speed heeling. But really good nutrition, water, sleep and time are what it takes to heel. He has been thru alot and his body not only fought the cancer he battled the brutal treatments as well so it will be a while before he is well again.

Best wishes with your fathers continued improvements.