"Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 624 | My husband thinks Ethyol is in part responsible for his getting through radiation with less severe mucositis* and far better salivary function than most. However it is not an easy drug to take -- protocol (hydration and serious anti-nausea drug 90 minutes beforehand, blood pressure readings, watch for generalized rash, etc.) should be followed exactly He did not take it on chemo days and that did not seem to diminish effectiveness but did make the Ethyol easier to tolerate.
*There have been a few recent papers showing some reduction in severity of mucositis with Ethyol but this is not as established as the salivary gland protection.
Gail
CG to husband Barry, dx. 7/21/05, age 66, SCC rgt. tonsil, BOT, 2 nodes (stg. IV), HPV+, tonsillectomy, 7x carboplatin, 35x tomoTherapy IMRT w/ Ethyol @ Johns Hopkins, thru treatment 9/28/05, HPV vaccine trial 12/06-present. Looking good!
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