PLEASE HELP I AM TRYING TO GET INFORMATION ON TONGUE CANCER. MY DAD JUST HAD THE SURGERY ON OCTOBER 11TH TO HAVE THE WHOLE TONGUE REMOVED. HE IS EATING BY A PEG TUBE NOW BECAUSE HE CAN NOT SWALLOW ANY LONGER. THE WORST THING IS THE SALIVA JUST SITTING THERE AND HARDENING UP MAKING IT HARD FOR HIM TO BREATHE. WE SPEND MOST OF OUR DAY DOING HIS SUCTIONING MACHINE AND CLEANING HIS MOUTH. I WOULD LIKE TO MEET SOMEONE WHO HAS GONE THROUGH THIS SO I CAN FIND OUT DOES THIS LAST FOREVER OR DOES IT GET BETTER WITH TIME. ANY INFORMATION WILL BE HELPFUL TO US.

I am so sorry to hear about your Dad. My sister is having surgery for tongue cancer on 7/1. I hope you won't mind some general suggestions. I was the primary caregiver for both my Mom and Dad when they were ill. First and foremost make sure you are getting any and all questions you have answered by the doctors...it is key to advocate for yourself and your loved one. I would like to suggest Hospice/Palliative Care. Many people have misconceptions that they are only for those who are dying soon. Not so! They were a tremendous support for our family (medical,emotional support 24hrs/day) and may help take some burden off of your Mom.

Your Mom may need to consider an antidepressent for a while until she adjusts. It helped my Mom when things were bad with Dad. Go to the doctor with her and tell him what is going on. He will have some suggestions as to assistance.

My thoughts are with you and your family. Make sure you all take care of yourselves. Caregiving is a very difficult labor of love.

THANKS FOR YOUR CONCERN IT IS REALLY APPRECIATIVE. UNFORTUNATELY I AM THE CAREGIVER I LOST MY MOM TO COLON CANCER FEBRUARY OF 2000. I DIDNT THINK I WOULD BE DEALING WITH THIS SO SOON. YES HOSPICE IS INVOLVED AND THEY ARE WONDERFUL. I AM ALSO ON MEDICINE TO HELP ME DEAL WITH EVERYTHING SO I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH ALL YOUR ADVICE. THIS IS SO HELPFUL WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE AROUND THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS AND CAN MAKE SOME OF YOUR WAY EASIER. THANKS AGAIN FOR REPLYING !!!!

Lucy, sorry for my poor English.
There are some drugs that produce dry mouth (xerostomia). They can bring some comfort to your dad. Besides the use of drugs, others ways can produce the same effect, like very localized radiation, but this is a permanet and irreversable treatment. Some advocate for cutting the innervation of the salivary gland, which will cause it to stop producing, but this may be severe treatments for a situation which may pass.

Yours sincerely
Pablo Gimenes Tavares DMD/PhD