I also recommend viscous lidocaine. It only works a short time, but it worked wonders when taken before eating or drinking after week 4 or so. Some use "magic mouthwash" which is generally locally made. Whatever mine was it burned so I did not use it. Instead I used salt water/baking soda which was tolerable when even water started to burn. (there should be recipes around here)
Best

M

I also used Biafine on my skin and highly recommend it. It is prescription so ask about it. As to vitamins and supplements, I think they generally recommend you stop taking all those things. Check with your RO on that.

Take care,
Eileen

I was told by all of my Drs to keep taking centrum daily.We can't eat a lot of foods that contain the needed vitamins and need the supplements contained in these.

I'm in Radiation therapy right now I started April 28 an the firs side effects really started to show up the week of May 10th. By the end of the week May 13 th I had last my voice I am producing Larg amounts of Phlem. I go through almost an entire box of tissues or a roll of paper towels. I'm finding it difficult to sleep. I'm good for the first couple of hours, then after that it's every hour I'm awake.

The week ending the 21st I needed to get a patch for teh pain. My throat is very raw and sore.

Tom,

Hang in there.

Everything you are going thru is 1000% normal. Swishing seltzer water helps breakup that crap. I walked around with a small Styrofoam cup in my pocket and spit in it all day. GROSS GROSS GROSS but better than anything else I tried. Unfortunately things may get worse from here until about your 2nd or 3rd week post Tx but I predict that by July 4th you will not only be celebrating the 4th but you will start feeling a lot better.

Beth
I wish I had found OCF back when I started my radiation TX. Instead there was just our waiting room cohort of patients watching each other get worse every week. Take a look at these posts and see that all of us made it through radiation.
It seems like forever when you are doing it, but within a year you will be the one posting to a newcomer about how you survived the Radiation.
In the meantime, as a diversion, you could Think about what you want to do with your mask, I posted a link a while ago about an art exhibit made entirely out of recycled radiation masks. Others mount it on their wall as a "trophy" or "award". Others crush it, ride it over, burn it, shoot it, bury it or just leave it behind at the TX center.
Good luck
Charm

Hi Beth,

I had trouble with the mask my first time through radiation. I had a panick attack and started to cry when they clamped me down for the first time. So they pulled the mask off anf cut the area over my eyes out. That felt so much better! I could open my eyes and see things normally instead of through plastic mesh. Ask if they can do that for you.

As far as treating your skin from the radiation, I tried Biafine but it felt like it was burning my skin. What worked the best for me was Palmer's Lotion with Cocoa Butter and Vitamin E. That was recommended by my plastic surgeon after surgery to lighten scarring. I continued to use it after each radiation treatment because it moisturized my skin so well and gave me such relief. My radiation oncologist says that also helped prevent scarring from the radiation. The area of my neck that was radiated went back to my normal skin color after treatment ended and I never had that leather look. I swear by that stuff and will be using it again with this next radiation treatment.

Good luck to you. I'll be thinking of you and keeping you in my prayers.

You have me laughing as usual with your words about our Lone Ranger apparatus. Only you Charm.

I found it very helpful to wrap my teeth and gums in gauze. It made it easier on the hot spots.

Do you have any aloe plants at your place? My daughter cut off a leaf from the aloe plant and rubbed it directly on my skin as soon as I got out of radiation, before I even got in the car to go home, and I had hardly any burn at all.