This is my first time to survivor/patient forums. I have recently started radiation therapy for a second occurance of squamous cell carcinoma on my tongue and the lining of my teeth. My first occurance was 4 1/2 years ago. I had a third of my tongue removed with the tumor and neck dissection. The cancer had not gone into the lymph nodes so I did not have any further treatment. Now they have determined radiation. I had two surgeries this summer for dysplasia but cancer appeared in a biopsy in Nov. After having two teeth removed I started the radiation. I have finished day 7 of a 39 treatment schedule and I already have loss of taste, mouth sores, thick muscositis and tiredness. I have slept most of this day. Any suggestions for the mouth sores. My Dr. has me doing mouth rinses 4 times a day of 50 oz. of warm water, 1/2 tsp of salt and soda. Can't seem to do all 50 oz. I am lucky to do half that. Will this get worse during the treatment? I am really scared. Much more so than the first time when I believed that they "got it all." I found new doctors after this summer and like this new team. Dr. keeps telling me that they found it early, Stage 1 and contained but the treatment seems just as aggressive as if in later stages. Eating is also an issue. It all seems so bleak.