My mom has oral cancer (Squamos Cell Carcinoma)

but so glad you found this forum.  There are so many smart and caring people here, who have been through treatment and will help your mom (via you, I presume)....

First...radiation treatments aren't painful to get.....though there is a cumlative effect as they go on.  Dry mouth, lack of taste, sunburned neck.  They can cause mouth sores....and many people develop a thick mucous, and of course the inside tissues are getting fried on a daily basis, so eating and swallowing can get difficult. 

If it was my mom I'd want to know if they know where the primary tumor is, and what stage her cancer is in....what treatments they propose (chemo and rads?  Just rads?).  Names of the chemo drugs they plan to use. 

What you can do is be there for her.  She may need rides to treatment and other appointments, help with getting proper nutrition, chores around her house so she feels comfortable being there.....and of course, love and encouragement.

Other folks here will come up with more questions to ask....and things to do to help....this is such a great place!!

p

Thank you for being proactive for your mom.  Please check the Superthread, so much information for the beginning, during and after treatment.  Stay in contact, we can help and guide you to where you can get help.  Does your mom go to appointments alone?  I would encourage that she take someone to take notes.  Sometimes we hear the word cancer and a brain shuts off.  Someone needs to keep notes and often refer back to the notes at further appointments.  Also, write down questions that you want to ask the doctors.

to what has been posted already, but I want you to know this is the greatest group of people you could have found  I'm sorry you have to be here, but this is certainly the place to get answers, support and encouragement.  Definitely check out the Super Thread....it's chock full of information.  

J.R. and June said:

Thank you for the replies

Thank you very much for the responses. You guys have already helped me a lot. My mom will be getting radiation every day for 6 weeks (not on the weekends though). They do not know yet if they will have to do the chemo. I presume that they want to see if the radiation is successful on its own. I live 2 hours away from her, but my father is retired and can take her to the doctors visits. I will be seeing her this weekend and will start the journey by bringing her a huge bouquet of flowers.

Are there any vitamins, etc that you can recommend she take for maximum health and healing power?

but I've had a couple of friends that have started rads since I finished.  I made them "goody bags" with a nice reusable water bottle for good hydration, Vaseline lip care for the chapped& burned lips, hand lotion with sanitizer in it for being in hospitals so much, a quart size container (along with a box of baking soda and a jar of salt...this makes a great mouthwash for during rads), notecards with encouraging scriptures, a blank journal for them to write their thoughts or questions for their doctors and a card with my email and phone # on it if they needed a ride to their appointment or just to talk.  They all loved it!