Hi Barry,

If you can still swallow a bit without using the PEG, you’re doing quite well. John could not even swallow a sip of coffee in the middle of his third week of radiation. You’re probably feeling that all your time and energy is totally focused on getting through treatment at this point. It is exhausting, both emotionally and physically. If it gets you down, you might want to speak to your team or to you family doctor about getting a prescription for anxiety. If taken before bedtime, it will allow you to sleep at night.
The dry mouth will persist for a long while. John used to carry a bottle of water with him which he drank from and rinsed his mouth with so that it wasn’t so dry. He also had a spit cup in his pocket whenever we were out. He did try the Xylitol tablets but he found them too powdery and it made him cough. Having said that, you might want to see if you have the same reaction to it or not. If not, it would be helpful.
Hang in there, you’re halfway through already.