| Joined: May 2011 Posts: 62 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: May 2011 Posts: 62 | Hi,
I heard someone today say they were considering Salagen to help dry mouth symptoms. My problem is I wake up every hour at night due to a severe dry mouth. When I drink water it burns, as the post radiation blisters are still healing. After a few minutes however the burn subsides and then I go to sleep for another hour or so.
Any suggestions regarding Salagen or anything else I can do to get a good night's sleep would be helpful. I hate taking drugs, but will consider if it will help more than hurt.
Thanks in advance!
Chetan
Last edited by cs-scc; 08-10-2011 06:19 PM.
Chetan SCC, lateral tongue, age 53, Tongue resection & neck dissection 5/6/11; T1N2BM0, RTX (35 sessions starting 6/8/11)/chemo (3x starting 6/10/11) Last cisplatin 7/22. RTX complete 7/27. PEG in 6/9/11, out 8/31/11
| | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,912 Likes: 52 OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,912 Likes: 52 | do a search on the boards (upper right hand corner) for the word salagen, it has been discussed here several times. Most didn't find it useful, a few did. All those conversations are in the archives. I didn't like it because it didn't help my mouth much and made be sweat like crazy all the time.
Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant. | | | | Joined: May 2011 Posts: 287 Gold Member (200+ posts) | Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: May 2011 Posts: 287 | From my research, I found that it is not very effective so not going for it. My dad's re-radiation has started today (60Gy/30) He will be on olive oil post radiation like last time.
Father; 67 yrs; RIP: 2012/05/26
TX:SCC pT2N1M0G2;Glossectomy+SND+CCRT(59.3Gy+6xCis.)[2009] TX:Nodal Mets; 3xDCF[2011/05/05] TX: RND + PMMC Flap[2011/07/11] DX:SCC PNI+ECE TX:Re-RT 60Gy[2011/09/21] TX:Gefitinib 250mg[2011/12/18]
| | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 | Olive oil? Well thats natural, and probably a good lubricant ! Did you try the biotene chetan?
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
| | | | Joined: May 2011 Posts: 287 Gold Member (200+ posts) | Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: May 2011 Posts: 287 | Yes Cheryl, Olive oil helped my dad post his previous radiotherapy. He used to swish his mouth with teaspoon full of olive oil and sleep interruptions were significantly minimized.
And, this time Sesame oil helped him heal chemo-induced-mucositis quickly. Sometimes natural products are of more help.
Chetan, just try Extra Virgin Olive Oil once and see if it helps you. Father; 67 yrs; RIP: 2012/05/26
TX:SCC pT2N1M0G2;Glossectomy+SND+CCRT(59.3Gy+6xCis.)[2009] TX:Nodal Mets; 3xDCF[2011/05/05] TX: RND + PMMC Flap[2011/07/11] DX:SCC PNI+ECE TX:Re-RT 60Gy[2011/09/21] TX:Gefitinib 250mg[2011/12/18]
| | | | Joined: May 2011 Posts: 62 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: May 2011 Posts: 62 | Hi Eshwar and Cheryl,
Eshwar - hope your dad does well. I will pray for him. I will try the extra virgin olive oil tongiht. Do you basically swish it around and then spit? How long should I swish?
Cheryl - which Biotene product was particularly useful. They have a number of products - gel, mouthwash, etc.
Thanks very much for your input!
Best Regards, Chetan
Chetan SCC, lateral tongue, age 53, Tongue resection & neck dissection 5/6/11; T1N2BM0, RTX (35 sessions starting 6/8/11)/chemo (3x starting 6/10/11) Last cisplatin 7/22. RTX complete 7/27. PEG in 6/9/11, out 8/31/11
| | | | Joined: May 2011 Posts: 287 Gold Member (200+ posts) | Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: May 2011 Posts: 287 | Chetan, just swish it around for 1-2 minutes to lubricate the mouth and you can then swallow. You may increase the quantity if you feel alright. Father; 67 yrs; RIP: 2012/05/26
TX:SCC pT2N1M0G2;Glossectomy+SND+CCRT(59.3Gy+6xCis.)[2009] TX:Nodal Mets; 3xDCF[2011/05/05] TX: RND + PMMC Flap[2011/07/11] DX:SCC PNI+ECE TX:Re-RT 60Gy[2011/09/21] TX:Gefitinib 250mg[2011/12/18]
| | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 | Right now I'm using the gel - it's small and portable - I'm not dry all the time just if I talk too much! I Also use the toothpaste I'm still dry in the morning but it takes less time to bounce back - as for sleeping no interruptions except to get up to go to the washroom - once - I'm just too tired when go to bed to get up multiple times - once I'm out - I'm pretty much out ! good luck chetan! And take care!
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
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