Hi Dj--

Get the 100% pure aloe gel (it should come in a brown glass bottle to protect from sunlight) -- GNC sells it. Use in mouth (it can be swallowed) and on neck starting NOW to condition skin. Barry started about 10 days before radiation thanks to a head's up from nurse at Hopkins. For mouth use about a tablespoonful, swish around and let trickle down throat. On skin apply like a cream. When it dries, put on the Biafine and their instructions say to start using beforehand. Cover sides and back of neck, throat, cheeks etc. This is more for external radiation but the mouth stuff would probably also be good for the seeds. You should ask the nurses what they find are major mouth impacts and how they handle them.

Get a super-soft Biotene toothbrush and Ultrafloss (sort of fuzzy soft floss). You may need fluoride gel trays made for treating teeth which means a visit to a dental oncologist -- not sure if these are needed if you only get brachytherapy. (??)

Did they test your husband's tumor for human papilloma virus? This is apparently not uncommon in tonsillar and base-of-tongue tumors and gives a better prognosis, the cancers are biologically different from those from smoking. My husband's tonsil/b.o.t. tumor is HPV-16 positive.

Gail