Barry used cold 100% (edible) aloe from GNC throughout treatment -- right after coming out of radiation he would swish with cold water and then go into bathroom and gargle with the aloe juice. He would also gargle with it 2-3x a day. He picked this up from a listserv for people with laryngeal cancer -- many said it was the only thing that made the burning (during radiation treatment) go away.You have to use the 100% food-grade juice, which comes in a brown glass bottle, unflavored is best. The laxative property of this juice (really, more of a gel) has been removed in the processing, so you can ingest it but Barry didn't.

He got through his chemoradiation with his mouth in better condition than 95% of others according to his RO, whether this was just chance or due to his being especially diligent about mouth care (aloe was only one part) no one is sure. However, the RO asked him to write out all he had done to try and protect his mouth and skin and the nurse is suggesting a number of these to other patients.

Gail