#60553 04-04-2007 03:47 PM | Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 2 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 2 | I have heard that there is some type of zinc tablet that can be taken to aid in bringing back saliva. Does anyone have information on this? | | |
#60554 04-04-2007 06:36 PM | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,918 Likes: 67 OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,918 Likes: 67 | That would be a good thing, but trials on zinc didn't pan out. Of course that does not mean that you won't find some health aid site on the web still tryng to convince people that buying it from them will make everything perfect. For most people where they are about a year to 18 month out of treatment is where they are going to be for the duration.
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.
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#60555 04-05-2007 07:14 AM | Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 176 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 176 | 150mg?day seemed to help me. I also survived 7 days of Amylphosphate (Ethol). My saliva is back to about 85-90% with no complaints.
Rob J
6-05, Left Tonsil-T1N2bM0 stageIVA, chemo(Cisplatin), radiation(6660cGy), neck disection, no PEG. HPV negative. (Doc suspects posit)
3-9-09 last of 30 HBO treatments.
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#60556 04-05-2007 02:43 PM | Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 294 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 294 | I read a few months ago that taking 2 to 3 220mg Zinc Sulfate tablets would help restore taste buds. I have never heard mention of any form of Zinc aiding the saliva issues.
I decided to give it a shot to aid the taste buds and am still taking the tabs. I had a difficult time finding them as the local drugstores and WalMart did not carry them. They had plain Zinc supplements but not Zinc Sulfate which is different. I ordered several bottles through Amazon on the web. I can't actually tell if they are helping or not as I have nothing to compare to. I am over 8 months post Tx and the buds are still screwy for the most part but seem to be getting better very slowly.
Bill D.
Dx 4/27/06, SCC, BOT, Stage III/IV, Tx 5/25/06 through 7/12/06 - 33 IMRT and 4 chemo, radical right side neck dissection 9/20/06.
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#60557 04-05-2007 02:44 PM | Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 294 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 294 | My last should have read, "2 to 3 tablets daily".
Bill D.
Dx 4/27/06, SCC, BOT, Stage III/IV, Tx 5/25/06 through 7/12/06 - 33 IMRT and 4 chemo, radical right side neck dissection 9/20/06.
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#60558 04-05-2007 06:38 PM | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,918 Likes: 67 OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,918 Likes: 67 | Related to the taste buds, from our oral cancer news section of the web site - http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/news/story.asp?newsId=1701 It does not work in clinical trials. I think Robroasters progress is a result of Amifostine protection and less about any mineral suppliment.
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.
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#60559 04-06-2007 02:07 AM | Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 294 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 294 | I guess I can trash my 4 remaining bottles of Zinc Sulfate!
Bill D.
Dx 4/27/06, SCC, BOT, Stage III/IV, Tx 5/25/06 through 7/12/06 - 33 IMRT and 4 chemo, radical right side neck dissection 9/20/06.
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#60560 04-06-2007 07:01 AM | Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 2 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 2 | Thank you to everyone who responded. I found it very helpful.
My husband just finished 7 weeks of radiation and two rounds of chemo. Just one week out he is feeling much better but the loss of saliva is a concern. He is also looking at acupuncture...
Once again, thanks! | | |
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