| | Joined: May 2016 Posts: 7 Member | OP  Member
Joined: May 2016 Posts: 7 | Hi,
I my husband is 3 months post treatment for tongue cancer. He just had a selective neck disection 3 weeks ago. He is healing well, but has very dry mouth.
He has tried: Biotene products, but none have worked well. Any ideas? Medications? Will this last forever?
Thank you,
Merri
Merri Nanette
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Merri, dry mouth is one of the annoying side effects OC patients have post rads. In time this does get slightly better for most of us. It just takes a long time, much longer than most patients expect. After everything cancer patients go thru with OC, it takes 2 years for a complete recovery. The dry mouth and sense of taste are the 2 main areas where patients will find improvements every so often right thru 2 years post rads. We have even had a few members relate they have noticed improvements even at 2 1/2 years post rads. As far as the dry mouth goes, what your husband is experiencing is normal. Many patients have dry mouth issues while going thru rads, even more-so afterwards. Using a humidifier can help. Some patients find gum or candy with xylitol helpful. Others use some lozenges that they stick to the roof of their mouth and it slowly dissolves (helps overnight). The rinses for dry mouth dont always work as well as they advertise. Especially the Biotene products which have undergone a major ingredient change that makes their products a waste of money. Ive added a link to the Biotene thread where there are many good ideas to help with dry mouth and other products discussed. You can also try using the search function which is near the upper right corner of any page. You will find hundreds of posts about dry mouth. Best wishes! Biotene thread
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | | | | | Joined: Aug 2016 Posts: 10 Member | | Member
Joined: Aug 2016 Posts: 10 | Hi,
Christine has really good suggestions. I have been taking pilocarpine since about my 5th week of radiation, and it seems to help. Luckily I haven't had the unfortunate side effect of excessive sweating like some people have mentioned.
I also use Mu-Gard oral rinse every night before bed, throughout my radiation treatments and even now (<2 months post rads). This seems to help keep my mouth moist enough through the night.
Good luck to your husband!
SCC 4/20/16, bottom middle of L side of tongue, T2, HPV-neg
Partial glossectomy 5/9/16, L lymph nodes removed (neg), nerve invasion
30 rad 6/20/16-7/29/16
Non-smoker, non-drinker
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