Okay, Danielle, here's an upper! I had 37 rad treatments and 5 chemo sessions. I was nauseated once from the meds they gave me to keep me getting sick from the chemo (??) but other than that did just ducky. Yes, I was burned all around my neck and on my jaw, but as Gary says, there is no need to be in pain. I had a PEG, so other than swishing the water/salt/baking soda rinse around my mouth, I didn't try to eat after sense of taste abandoned me. My saliva thickened toward the end and hung on for three weeks. Not fun, but tolerable. I also lost my voice except for a hoarse whisper, but that was only for a week or so after treatment ended, and happens to some people depending upon where the radiation is aimed. I was tired at the end, mostly I think from the pain meds, but otherwise did just fine. Until the burns began to hurt in the last week, the only discomfort I had was the back of my head on the hard treatment table. This was solved by popping a Tylenol about 30 minutes prior to treatment. I cannot second what Gary said strongly enough. It is your mom's right not to hurt, so either you or she should speak up at the first twinge. I hope the fact that so many of us made it through still smiling will give her some strength to do the same. Ask all the questions you want, Danielle. There will always be someone here who has first-hand experience.