Anne-Marie,

I finished radiation four years ago as of July 10th. As I'm sure you've been told, our saliva never returns to normal. Even if we get quite a bit of it back, it tends to be stringy and thicker. I've adjusted well to it, but at times I use salt/water swishes to soothe my mouth, especially during the change of seasons.

SCC Left Mandible. Jaw replaced with bone from leg. Neck disection, 37 radiation treatments. Recurrence 8-28-07, stage 2, tongue. One third of tongue removed 10-4-07. 5-23-08 chemo started for tumor behind swallowing passage, Our good friend and much loved OCF member Minnie has been lost to the disease (RIP 10-29-08). We will all miss her greatly.