Hello! I'm so very sorry for this difficult dilemma you're in. This is definitely quite the curveball thrown at you in this game of life.

I don't have a lot to add other than, rads are different for everyone! I am post 33 rad treatments now 3 months and I wouldn't even say that I have dry mouth. I'd say I have 70% of my saliva vs. 100% prior to rads. I eat my burgers and sandwiches WITH the bread and really don't have a negative eating experience from it. Now, you do lose your sense of taste for a length of time and I fully expect him to experience SOME side effects. I also did have my mouth kind of slough off its layer about 2/3 of the way through rads. That was over in a few days and no other mouth sores or issues prior to that or after. I have had a very stiff neck and jaw and I have pt twice a week to keep those muscles good and flexible and let me tell you, they are NOT a downside because it feels heavenly! I am still on a low dose of oxycodone because I do have some residual throat/ear pain that they believe is damage from radiation to a nerve in my throat that just needs more time to heal. And that right there is the extent of my rads negative effects. That may sound like a lot but it's really not. All of it has been very manageable because I have been on opioids to be kept comfortable throughout the entire process. My point is, we are all different and rads may not turn out to be the big scary monster that people warn you that it will be.

Good luck to you and your husband during this difficult time and please keep us updated!