Radiotherapy Mouth/Jaw advice please

Hello Chrissi. Three years ago I had a floor of mouth carcinoma which was surgically removed and then followed up with a month of radiotherapy - feel free to read my profile and any relevant blogs / posts which may be of use to you. Although you didn't say how many fractions / treatments your Nan was to have, she may well get a rather sore mouth and throat - a lot depends on how much radiation she will receive. The side effects started to kick in about two weeks into the treatment and unfortunately I did have a bad reaction - however, the RT doctor can prescribe painkillers to help if necessary. Although this type of treatment can be tough, it is intended to destroy any cancer cells in a specific targeted way. I guess that it will be a case of seeing how your Nan copes with it and just being there for her. Hope that I have been of some help and wish your Nan all the best. Love, Joycee xx

She has only had 2 treatments Joyce and no surgery or anything.  I myself had radiotherapy for breast cancer and didnt have any side effects but I know when you have it in different areas different things can be experienced.  I know she is worried about side effects and she is a little down.  What I wanted to do was put together a little hamper of things that might be useful in terms of side effects she may get and things she might enjoy if this happens.  She was told it was going to be 2 low dose treatments but it turns out it was high dose.  I have said to her she might not be too bad so fingers crossed she wont need anything. Thanks for your reply, all the best x

Hello again Chrissi. I was so pleased to know that your Nan only had two RT treatments - hopefully she won't get any side effects from those. As I mentioned earlier, they tend to hit after approx ten RT fractions and build up from there. I now have a few long-term effects like a dry-ish mouth as my saliva glands were zapped and my tongue can be quite sore even after all this time. But it sounds like your Nan will be okay and it's understandable that she may feel a bit down - that's natural. What about a lovely bouquet of flowers to cheer her up ? She certainly has a caring granddaugher in you, Chrissi. Take care and all best wishes to you both. Love, Joycee xx

Hi

This worked well for NHL peeps who had stem cell transplants if they will prescribe it

www.dailymail.co.uk/.../New-mouthwash-eases-discomfort-chemotherapy-preventing-treating-mouth-throat-ulcers.html

and here is a link to another site where a user had something similar

www.cancerforums.net/.../14688-49-yr-old-with-DLBC-NH-Lextra-nodal-in-Maxilla-(top-jaw)

best wishes

john

thankyou to you both for your kind and helpful replies x