Neck/Head Radiation - Side effects - Remedies - HELP

egge
egge Member Posts: 20
edited March 2014 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
I was wondering if anyone knows about something to help with the sores in the mouth. My husband is in the middle of his treatment (33 total) and has a lot of sores. Any input to aliviate the simptoms will be appreciated.
How about nausea? sore throat?
Thank you all in advance.
Jessica Egge

Comments

  • FredP
    FredP Member Posts: 1
    Jessica ... rather than trying suggestions 'in the wild', you need to talk to his doctor and ask (DEMAND) that he/she prescribe something to deal with the sores (or, at least, the soreness). Don't be afraid to push for information, that's your new job as caregiver for your husband ... some doctors are just not pro-active.
    Medications have come a long way even in the last ten years ... I suffered no nausea at all through chemo/radiation.
    Good Luck ... it's a brutal period and will get worse before it gets better, but it WILL get better.
    Feel free to email me if I can help.
    Fred
  • nckaren
    nckaren Member Posts: 18
    For nausea, my doctor tried a couple of drugs unsuccessfully until I tried Zofran. I was able to take two a day, and it really calmed my stomach and made it easier to hold food down. As for the mouth ulcers, my doc was unable to help with anything. It has taken a few months (and I am still healing) but they are finally gone and taste for most things has come back - bit by bit. My thoughts are with you and your husband - I know exactly what he is going through (I had 30 treatments). If you have any further questions or you or your husband just want to chat, please contact me through the website.

    Karen
  • egge
    egge Member Posts: 20
    FredP said:

    Jessica ... rather than trying suggestions 'in the wild', you need to talk to his doctor and ask (DEMAND) that he/she prescribe something to deal with the sores (or, at least, the soreness). Don't be afraid to push for information, that's your new job as caregiver for your husband ... some doctors are just not pro-active.
    Medications have come a long way even in the last ten years ... I suffered no nausea at all through chemo/radiation.
    Good Luck ... it's a brutal period and will get worse before it gets better, but it WILL get better.
    Feel free to email me if I can help.
    Fred

    Thanks Fred, I have asked the doctor, he is on 3 different pills for nausea including Zofran but nothing seems to help. About the sores in his mouth they tell us to rinse his mouth with salt water. I will talk to the doctor again, there got to be something that should work. Thanks though, we are fairly new to this Cancer thing and still trying to get everything in order.
  • cindya
    cindya Member Posts: 4
    My doctor put me on Diflucan for the mouth sores. In fact, my thrush keeps coming back so I take it on and off. For pain he gave me liquid morphine. I didn't really want to take the morphine but soon realized it was better than the pain. The sore mouth was the worst pain I have ever experienced in my life.
  • egge
    egge Member Posts: 20
    cindya said:

    My doctor put me on Diflucan for the mouth sores. In fact, my thrush keeps coming back so I take it on and off. For pain he gave me liquid morphine. I didn't really want to take the morphine but soon realized it was better than the pain. The sore mouth was the worst pain I have ever experienced in my life.

    Thank you all for responding. Darin is now back home and all done with the treatments. The nausea is starting to go away....