Tami --

The radiation team should have discussed and had a pain-management program in place for your mom beforehand. She has the right to be without pain, and they need to get on the stick to help her -- at least as much as is possible. What [ain meds is she getting? Does she take them regularly (if she waits until it hurts terribly it is really too late). She made need the Duragesic patch or even morphine mouthwash. GelClaire is supposed to relieve mouth pain in many patients. The mouth sores will only get worse without treatment and they also need to be sure she doesn't have an infection (thrush, herpes, bacteria) which requires appropriate and immediate medication.

I really think it's awful how little seems to be done for some of the people on this forum re management of side effects and pain -- so you need to be your own advocate and demand attention if you are not getting it. True there is no magic bullet for some of these things but there are available things that can help a lot of people.

Gail