My father has been diagnosed with squamous cell cancer of the mouth and has had nearly 3 weeks of Radiation. His mouth and throat are very ulcerated and sore and he has been told to gargle with oil of cloves by a friend. Has anyone heard of this? please

Hello and welcome Archie's daughter. I am glad you have now posted and I know you will get a lot of good advise here.
To help people here who may have had or are having the same issues you need to let them know as many details as you can. I have taken the liberty of adding some of the details from your PM. I am sure you will get some good advice and I can guide you throught the signature bit later.
I have added some of the information you gave me below as it is very important to people trying to help you here...
Gabe

"dad has a squamous cell cancer at the back of the roof of his mouth just at the side of his left tonsil.They say he will only need Radiation as it is localised but they are radiating the lymph glands in his neck just incase. So we have asked today about the staging etc."

One thing you will find during this process is that most of the people you know or have met in your daily life have never had radiation to the head and neck...however they will be quick to add their opinion on how to handle it.

Last I checked, Oil of Cloves mouthwash isn't standard in our treatment protocol, however I'd have your father talk to his "medical team" on how to handle the physical discomfort he's experiencing. This will probably cut down the chances of infection as well and probably his pain to boot.

hello everyone, I went threw radiation on my neck for for stage 1 on my larynx. i'd lay on that table up to a hour, so they could lined me up. It was so uncomable ,I hated that place. I finlly ask for zanx and what a differents it made.I sailed right threw it. Sorry about the spelling.

Beware of what well-meaning friends come up with. Of course ask the doc before doing anything. Welcome to OCF, you will find tons of info here and on the main pages. There is a search button on both. Feel free to ask any questions you may have, you will find many OCF members to guide you thru this.

Ask for magic mouthwash prescription to help ease the pain.

He can also rinse several times per day with a mix of 16oz water, tsp baking soda and tsp salt. If this burns then decrease or omit the salt.

Archie,


Your dad�s case sounds similar to mine (see my signature).

I had radiation only to the back top of the mouth (soft palet) I was early stage and my worst side effect was the ulcers. I would stick with the doctor recommended treatments. The baking soda & salt rinse that Christine mentioned is almost universal in our world.

I had a mild fentynol patch (25mg) with liquid hydracodone for breakthrough pain. My doctor offered to up those meds if I needed but I was able to get through at that level. Tell you dad not to be afraid to ask for whatever pain medications he needs. Those ulcers are very painful and his doctor should know that.

Yes Archie, you are getting the best advice. As for the olive oil , If I remember right, it's good on some foods or salad. Good luck to your dad.

lol Jim we know olive oil is good in salads but the question was re oil of cloves.
The smell of this reminds me of the dentist I have used it for toothache many years ago.
My mouth wash (Dentyl) comes in 2 �flavours�..one being oil of cloves.
Below is a couple of comments from a quick google but it is best to check with the doctors.
�A mixture of oil of cloves and tea tree oil 50/50 can help with the pain and infection caused by mouth ulcers. Apply a very small dab onto the ulcer�
�Its great as a teething preparation or for mouth ulcers.�

Cheers everyone, its great to be able to hear other comments.You want to do the right thing,and to know what others have gone through sure helps.Thank you

Gabe, I remember my mom giving her 8 BRATS that mixture for tooth aches. But it helped. Fels Naptha soap and sugar on boils too then wrapped. LOL Oh we had fun with the old time cures.

Just an update on Dads treatment,He is 3 weeks in and 3 and 1/2 to go. He has mouh sores,burnt skin,constipation,nausea and just cant eat. He says he feels as though his throat is closing up.Does anyone know if that is normal?God he still has 3 plus weeks to go!!!! We were wondering also about something called colloidal silver as a gargle and mouth wash, has any one heard if this works?

the symptoms you describe sounds pretty normal. does he have a PEG?? he certainly needs to keep up the nutrition right now.

I agree with Teresa, My thorat still feels like it's closing so I would say this is normal.

Gabe, I was told to use a Salt water mixture and then followed with Biotene Mouth Rinse which I still use everyday. Hope this helps some. Good luck and give your Dad my best wishes!!! Semper-Fi Bob

Hi Bob,
Just to set the record straight this is Senga's posting for Dad Archie. Just posted a few things that might be of help but as I had surgery only I cannot be of help with most of Archie's issues.

Thanks everyone, well its Monday and week 4 about to start.I tell dad we are on the home stretch now, so we just have to try to see the finish line. Its all very well me saying these things to him but he is the one who has to look through all his pain.
He has been a very fit healthy man his whole life, working as a supervisor in High Rise construction as a site foreman,never has a sick day in 36 years.sounds unbelievable but true.He has just not long retired 3 years ago and has still led a very active retirement.So I think it is dificult for him to understand taking all this in.I know the drs all said there was POSSIBLE side effects and I suppose we put our heads in the sand thinking he would be ok through it all.Well not so its very hard for him and by looking at this forum,I think things are just starting.It is good to know what is going to happen though as we can prepare a bit or at least know that what he is going through is normal (whatever the word normal means at this point) and that people do come out the other side of treatment and beat this horrid thing.Hopefully we will chat with the drs today and let them know what has been happening.He does not have a PEG but I think maybe we should have asked, can he get one now or is it too late?
Thanks for the info everyone.

Hi Archie

Sorry to hear that your dad has to deal with this disease. The radiotherapy assistant/ nurse should be able to give your dad all the appropriate lotions and potions that he needs throughout his treatments.

I was given a bag full of medications and lotions for everything. Mouthwash for mouth ulcers, lotions for my neck, medication for constipation, painkillers and so on. They should give him all the tools he needs to make the treaments as bearable as possible

It would be a good idea to speak with the doctor regarding a PEG tube. Your dad really needs to keep up his calorie intake during this time. The radiotherapy just zaps all of the goodness out of our bodies. His body will need to stay full of nutrition to fight the damage that radiotherapy does. The hospital can also supply Ensure (a supplement drink) to him. The nutritionist or dietician at the hospital can organise this. They will deliver a supply of this to your dads home.

Also, he should keep drinking lots of water to ensure that he stays hydrated throughout the treatments.

Karen

Archie,

If he is NORMAL and I use that word very loosely in this post, he may have another 7 weeks of the ordeal left and probably the worse yet. Check on the Peg but also ask about the Nasal Tube. They will tell you it's meant for short term situations but to me 7 weeks is ST. I personally would avoid that Peg until everything else had been considered.

well, hello all it has been a while since I was last on and that is because we have been through quite an ordeal.Fri the 19th of March I was unable to wake dad up in the morning he was unconcious. So had to get an ambulance and he was taken into hospital with respiritory failure. All due to severe infection of his throat and left lung. No one will tell us if it was because of the radiation or not.He has been in hospital on drip antibiotics for a week now and is on the mend.Since he has been on the antibiotics I cant believe how different his mouth looks. Before it was extremely coated and white,which the radiation nurses said was normal but it looks so different now and he has still been getting the treatment.I think it was infection before.
Only 11 fractions to go so hope it all goes ok.

Im so sorry to hear of your father's problems. He is so lucky to have you there to assist him. Luckily you found him and got immediate medical help for him.

The white coating in his mouth could be whats called thrush. Its similar to a yeast infection and coats the mouth white.

Best wishes to your father for a speedy recovery.

Hello Senga,
So very sorry to hear what you have been going through with dad Archie. It was good that you were there and able to get him to hospital by ambulance. As Christine says it may have been thrush and it looks like the antibiotics may have helped with that. Best wishes for the next lot of treatments.