 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 | Garyock,
Ethyol helps in some situations, not in all. It is not an absolute that it will help you preserve salivary function. Some people simply cannot tolerate it though. I did not have it and still retained some salivary function.
Also, a neck disection is not as horrible a procedure as it sounds to be. I had one, as have many on this board. You must make sure that the basis for you to have or not to have one is based on your doctors opinion of your set of circumstances, and not based on what treatment others have had.
Gail makes a good point about the PEG, see if and when they are giving you one. Some people get through without it, some don't. It seems to be a very individual type situation with no set of rules or guidelines to follow.
Good luck with it,
Minnie
SCC Left Mandible. Jaw replaced with bone from leg. Neck disection, 37 radiation treatments. Recurrence 8-28-07, stage 2, tongue. One third of tongue removed 10-4-07. 5-23-08 chemo started for tumor behind swallowing passage, Our good friend and much loved OCF member Minnie has been lost to the disease (RIP 10-29-08). We will all miss her greatly.
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