Try a different approach. You have to convince her that the psychiatrist is not the "lay on the couch and let's talk about mother" kind of thing but rather an MD that specializes in managing brain chemistry medications. It's just normal part of the entire team concept for managing cancer and it's side effects.

If she had XRT (regular but not IMRT radiation) she may never regain salivary function but may periodically battle thrush forever. Thrush can be fatal if it goes systemic and very difficult to treat if if migrates to the esophagus. That is why she needs to deal with it quickly. The thrush can cause all of the systems you mention, very sore mouth, difficulty swallowing, etc.

All of us have these fungi in our mouths but dry mouth, antibiotics and compromised immune systems can alter the bodies defenses against them. She may need to be on a maintenance dose of Diflucan or other antifungal.

Feb '04 poor dear - that's a long time to suffer! But tell her that's why the doctors get the big bucks! Besides they probably LIKE seeing a 75 year old survivor.