Welcome to the site Shelagh,
and I very sorry it has to be under such circumstances. She has a right to pain management and should not be suffering. I was on long term opioids for over 2 months post Tx. They probably took her off of them too soon. They gave me the spray too and it burned like hell. I used a concoction that the pharmacist compounded of mainly lidocaine and liquid morphine that was a "swish & spit". She should start getting her sense of taste back in the next few weeks. She would probably be better off on a liquid or blended diet, for now, and also needs to take in 2-3 liters of water a day. If she eating solids then try using a straw with the liquids to direct it and ease and lubricate swallowing. She may be able to survive longer but will have to force herself to eat or she should get a PEG tube. Radiation is pretty brutal and she should be able to gain some quality of life back, but it can take several monthes.

At this point home hospice care might give her more comfort and better pain management. Share your fond memories and past experiences together, stay in the "now" and take it one day at a time - consider each one a gift. Anti-depressants may help as well. Most of us know only too well about the feeling of living in Limbo. A few persons here with terminal cancer have had 2-3 years of a decent quality of life.

We have several members from the UK, we are a multinational forum. Cancer doesn't care what country you're from.