Hi Sophie:
I just finished my 35 radiation treatments last Friday. All during rads I used Aquaphor twice daily as has been recommended by both my RO and by people here on the forum. While my skin did sunburn up to a nice dark brown color, it never developed sores, cuts or even got tight or brittle. My heaviest rads were on left side, right side didn't even hardly change color.

Now, one week later, the darkest brown patches are going away some. I continue to use the Aquaphor and will until it all returns to normal skin color.

For your husband is it a scar because sores, cuts actually opened up and then had to heal, or is it just skin discoloration like I had?

You asked what are the odds about ... I think many of us have asked about odds of something happening or not happening, and while the statistics might be available that doesn't mean your husband will fit the statistics. That old phrase that we hear over and over here on the forum ... we are all different, what worked for one person may or may not work for you. In that regard I think statistics are only of minimal help.

As for salivary glands I think both sides managed to survive. Yes, I do have some dry mouth periodically, but it also isn't continuous dry mouth. I can swallow normally without pain though I do have a lot of sinus drainage that dries in my throat at night during sleep. I wake up each morning with what feels like a throat that has been coated in glue that was allowed to dry. A little warm water gargle after brushing my teeth begins to loosen it up and then being upright allows me to hack and spit some pretty gross looking stuff until I'm clear. It remains that way until lather, rinse, repeat happens the next night. I have often thought that anything that gross looking coming out of my throat every day has to be something bad. But, my doc says it's normal. My sinuses stay clear and open and I have no problem breathing all day and night long.

I did develop mucositis during last week of radiation and it's still with me today. I don't feel like it's getting any better, but the RO said it can be here for awhile. Thank goodness for oral lidocaine as even swallowing Ensure would be almost impossible without it.

I can't help you with the jaw replacement feelings of tightness, but I'm sure someone else here can.

I hope this is what you were looking for.

Good luck.

Tony