Pam,

I wasn't able to avoid dry mouth problems. When I had radiation, I think there wasn't anything available as a preventive measure against it, so it was fairly severe for a long time. Eventually I started taking Salagen (oral pilocarpine) when the clinical trials began around 15 years ago, and I've kept taking it ever since. It has helped me get back some of my saliva production, and the Biotene products (mouthwash, gel and spray) have been an added help. Thankfully, my saliva has gotten back to a much better level than I ever thought it would, and I have very few eating constraints.

BTW -- I also bake catfish and tilapia and adapted a sauce that I found at Whole Foods market (just spread this over the fish before baking):

2 tablespoons olive oil
Juice of one lime
2 teaspoons prepared mustard
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
(I also add either some Old Bay seasoning or a small amount of chopped chili peppers -- not recommended for soon after radiation, but maybe later wink )

Cathy

Tongue SCC (T2M0N0), poorly differentiated, diagnosed 3/89, partial glossectomy and neck dissection 4/89, radiation from early June to late August 1989