 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 624 | Hi Brenda --
Since you are in UK, go to the chemist and buy some Difflam -- which contains benzydamine HCl , shown in clinical trials to be the single most effective medication against mucositis and oral sores. It has been approved and is sold (usually over-the-counter) in 37 countries but not yet, alas, in the USA. It is a topical NSAID (not ingested) so I am not sure of FDA's issue with it -- perhaps they are being super-careful with new NSAIDs in general after Vioxx. Our dental oncologist (an expert in radiation issues) was in a trial for this medication and thought it was very effective. You rinse and swish and then spit.
There are also Difflam lozenges but these may not be sold in UK, at least I didn't see any when in England in January (might ask about these). Barry got some last year from an Aussie friend and we picked more up when in Oz last August, they are on counter next to all the cough drops etc., he found them very soothing -- I have used myself with canker sores.
Rincinol also helps, it is the OTC version of GelClair which is a pretty expensive prescription material.
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!
| 
