Best wishes to your father, Rett. Bad enough for any of us much less later in life when it would have to be tougher to fight. As noted by Christine and others, my doctor put me on fentanyl patches and increased dosages as my condition in mouth and throat got worse. Then decreased once tx were over. That along wiht magic mouth wash and other pain medications is the route he'll have to go. Very difficult for him to experience and for you to see. Take care.