Another drug to try is metroclopramide (Reglan) -- it would have to be delivered by tube so not sure if there is a liquid form or if it can be ground up -- this moves materials through the stomach faster. My husband had terrible heartburn at the beginning of treatment (possibly reltade to the insertion of the PEG or perhaps,his body's reaction to the chemo) but the Reglan helped. He also used Prevacid before eating a few times (he ate all the way through). Also, if your husband is taking Oxycodone, that causes a lot of heartburn and to avoid it, my husband started using the Duragesic patch so he could continue to swallow and eat despite a very sore throat and mouth (mucositis).

Re the latter, try to encourage your husband to swallow (even if only water) during the treatment as his throat and tongue muscles can lose their ability to work due to disuse, as well as to radiation damage. Admittedly, this may have to wait until you cure the heartburn but then he should try. Our ENT and RO said continuing to swallow is very important, not to hesitate to use pain meds as needed to get past the pain.

Gail

---------------------------------------------------------------Husabnd Barry 66, dx SCC right tonsil, base of tongue, 2 nodes 6/21, stage III/IV, HPV-16+ tumor, tonsillectomy 6/21 (no other surgery), treatment at Johns Hopkins started 8/10, 33x tomo-IMRT radiation (66 gy), 7x carboplatin, completed 9/28. Initial exams show good response, full exam will be 12/6.