Stephanie,

I understand your concerns about vacation planning. Before I was diagnosed, my husband and I had planned a major trip and had put down a large deposit (unfortunately without getting trip cancellation insurance). Even with a letter from my oncologist detailing the reasons why we wouldn't be able to take it as planned, we were only able to get part of our money back. By about four months after my last radiation treatment, my facial swelling had gone down a bit, the mouth sores had healed, and I was feeling like I could handle a trip of a week or so, so we set up something on fairly short notice. However, rates of healing can vary, so it's hard to predict while you're still in the middle of treatment.

Regarding your dry mouth question -- I still have a lot of dry mouth problems, even 15 years after completion of treatment. I was in clinical trials for oral pilocarpine (a drug primarily used for glaucoma treatment which can help stimulate saliva production) about a year or so after I finished radiation. I found it helpful enough that I have been using it ever since, 3 times a day. It's one of those things that's not for everyone, but it can be helpful to some people. I don't know if it can be used while radiation is still going on, or if it must wait until after.

Your mother is fortunate to have you looking out for her.

Cathy