Acupuncture for saliva

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Hello all, 

im asking on behalf of my mum who has recently completed treatment for base of tongue cancer, intense radio therapy and one chemo, that has left her saliva glands not existent and an extremely dry mouth making it very very difficult to eat. 
she has had 4 acupuncture treatments to try and help increase saliva, but doesn’t feel it’s working very well for her. Does anyone have any advice on perhaps how many treatments she might need? Or does anyone have any success stories getting saliva back please? 
many thanks 

Amy 

  • I had good results 

    It has to be the right type. Where is her practitioner placing her needles? 

    Dani 

    Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019

    I BLOGGED MY TREATMENT 

    Macmillan Support Line -  0808 808 00 00 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

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  • im asking on behalf of my mum who has recently completed treatment for base of tongue cancer

    How many weeks out of treatment is she? 
    The CRT usually spares one parotid gland but it does take some weeks to get going properly. 
    There are minor salivary glands dotted about all over the mouth and throat and these tend to do pretty well in time. Can your mum chew gum? This helps a lot. 

    Dani 

    Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019

    I BLOGGED MY TREATMENT 

    Macmillan Support Line -  0808 808 00 00 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

    Community Champion badge
    1. Thank you for your reply, my mum is 6 months after treatment, she had radiotherapy to the mid throat and both sides as the cancer was in a couple of lymph nodes nodes both sides .the main tumour was base of tongue.The acupuncturist put the needles in mums ears,face and feet and fingers. Thank you.
  • I must say I had a flow of saliva after just one treatment

    It doesn't work for everybody so perhaps if there is no noticeable effect after four treatments it might be better to abandon it

    There is a trial involving gene therapy going at this moment at UCLH

    As far as I can gather it is recruiting patients with severe xerostomia. Most of us here who have passed through the forum probably wouldn't qualify but your mum might if both sides of her neck received a full dose of RT

    Click the link below

    UCLH Gene Therapy for Xerostomia

    Dani 

    Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019

    I BLOGGED MY TREATMENT 

    Macmillan Support Line -  0808 808 00 00 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

    Community Champion badge
  • Hi I had one a week for around 6 months I did notice a difference after one treatment.  But I still have dry mouth 6 years on no where near as bad as the start I still use sugar free gum and xyimelts at night. You need auricular acupuncture it doesn’t work for everyone but has good results. I had 35 radiotherapy and 2 chemo I’m living a good life it’s early days for yiu mum improvements happen for several years. In fact i am still gettu)ng tiny ones even now without realising it some days . 

    Hazel x

    Hazel aka RadioactiveRaz 

    My blog is www.radioactiveraz.wordpress.com  HPV 16+ tonsil cancer Now  6 years  post treatment. 35 radiotherapy 2 chemo T2N2NM.Happily getting on with living always happy to help

    2 videos I’ve been involved with raising awareness of HNC and HPV cancers 

    https://www.instagram.com/merckhealthcare/reel/DBs8Y0niJ8N/

  • .The acupuncturist put the needles in mums ears,face and feet and fingers.

      

    That’s what she had. Auricular refers to ears. 

    Dani 

    Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019

    I BLOGGED MY TREATMENT 

    Macmillan Support Line -  0808 808 00 00 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

    Community Champion badge