THANK YOU ALL FOR YOU YOUR RESPONSES - THEY ARE VERY HELPFULL!

I guess I have to be patient. It has been about 4 weeks since radiation ended. It seems to me that the pain on my tongue and in the area where the tumor was removed has become worse. Maybe it is my imagination. One of the things my ENT said was that my tongue was rubbing against my teeth and causing an abrasion. I have since had dentist smooth out teeth edges, but is still hurts after 2 weeks of that being done. The rad oncologist told me that the steriods in the magic mouthwash would eventually make the pain go away. So I am swishing and swallowing faithfully as requested. I have become addicted to the oxycodone and need more now than before to achieve same result.

The thoughts of having to bear this for a year(s) is difficult to swallow (no pun intended). Doc told me that the sense of tase would return at a rate of 1 year for every 1000 rads of radiations. So 7 more years without taste! Good Lord, this is hard. Don't get me wrong, I thank God that the report from the petScan was excellent - no cancer left! I know this will be all worth it in the end.

Ha anyone heard of a similar formula for the return of taste? Also, I had to have a molar removed pre rad tx and wow, it is really hard to chew with the large opening where tooth is missing. Any one have that issue? Maybe a bridge would help.

Thank you all so much, you are so very kind to take the time to help those that aresuffering in this fashion.

Dennis Hansen