Simon's going pretty well all things considered, but in the last week to ten days his tongue has formed nasty opaque ulcers on either side. He saw the speech therapist and the nutritionist a couple of days ago and they said it is likely more recovering from radiation.

His throat is also sore, mostly in the morning after a dry night. I don't think he'd worry if it was all part and parcel of recovery, and the fact that it's running down both sides of the tongue sounds like it's OK, but I suppose we're all a bit spooked by the slightest thing. Do these blisters/ulcers 5 weeks out from RADS sound "normal"?

Sounds normal to me. I'm about 14 weeks out from the end of radiation and still have some ulcers on my tongue. the Erbitux contributes, too. Just make sure he shows his docs anythithan dat worked him and definitely any sores that don't heal within a couple of weeks.

Yes it takes a while to heal, and diet can irritate his mouth as well particularly acidic foods.

Thanks Tracy. I suspected that might be the case. I hope things are going well for you. How did you handle the Erbitux overall?

Hi Cheryl, the ulcers have appeared a couple of weeks after radiation finished. Do you think that's a worry?

I would always suggest having them looked at - it can't hurt. However radiation is cumulative - a few weeks a few radiation (depending on the person) is the worst time. Plus you are dealing with very sensitive traumatized tissue. Anything can irritate it - point in fact. My real tongue (half of it is a graft) my real tongue was irritated by an upper molar for the better part of my rads - it got worse as rads progressed - my upper molar is inset - so it was in a position where because of the swelling etc my tongue was being pushed into it constantly. I was very conscious of it so much so that I would sleep a certain way to prevent it from rubbing at night - I finally asked my dentist a few months post radiation to please File it down, he did and the problem for the most part was solved - that area is still sensitive 7 mos out of radiation! But usually only when I eat foods that irritate it. Rough foods, dry foods, spicy foods, or acidic foods! Some people take longer to heal. So If your brother has tried to get back to eating and is still healing ths could very well cause ulcerations and issues! But it is always a good idea to have it checked out. Good luck!

Those nasty little ulcers on the sides of the tongue are a bitch and hurt like like hell when they brush up against the teeth. They are typically caused more by chemo then radiation but radiation is a player to be sure.

The nasty little things took the longest time to heal as well. Well over a month post Tx. They were the main reason I was on pain meds for so long. Swish & spit "magic mouthwash" will help those as well.

Sam, to get him through the next few weeks or months you might also ask for some viscous lidocaine. That will numb the area for a brief period, at least long enough to eat or drink. Here in the US it's a prescription med.

My husband's dental work scatttered some of the radiation back onto his tongue, which didn't help matters. He found the viscous lidocaine to be very helpful. Good luck to Simon and to you - you are past the worst of it!

Lidocaine is short acting. The Morphine in Magic mouthwash will give you at least 30 minutes of pain free bliss. Besides Magic Mouthwash has lidocaine as well.