My mom finally received her treatment schedule.

Zofran worked for me during chemo and was given to me after each Cyberknife treatment.  Glad I had a few left, needed to use them for nausea side effect.  Phrannie will let you know about Mugard.

From what I understand about mugard it is best to start it with Rads begore sores have a chsnce. I started taking it about 2 weeks in & it did nothing for me. I didn't even order the script. My Dr had some samples he gave me to try first. I did not have chemo & so didn't have chemo induced nausea but I would just remind your mom's Dr that everyone is different. I have had severe nausea with both of my pregnancies & zofran doesn't do a lot for me so I would just have hom be willing to prescribe sonething stronger if she needs it. I hope treatments go by quickly for her!

In the case of Mugard, it's supposed to be started the day a person starts radiation....I didn't start it until about a week in....and had a sore starting on my upper lip....when I got the Mugard, the sore was in the "sandpaper" stage.  That's where a place/spot on the inside of a person's mouth takes on a grainy feel when felt with the tongue.  The Mugard staved off that sore, and I never got another.  She'll feel the beginings of a sore and when she does tell her to demand Mugard.  I don't know why some of these guys are so obstinant...like they are paying for it or something.

I had Zophran, Compasine, Atavan....and Emend.  The Dr. might be holding off on the Emend, since she's getting a smaller dose of chemo every week, whereas I had a huge dose every 3 weeks....doing a wait and see on it...it doesn't sound like he'd be against using it if she needs it, tho. 

Good luck to mama.....sounds like she's about to get on the bus and get this trip moving.

p

J.R. and June said:

Hi Meaganb

Thanks for the post. Question: Did you develop mouth sores because you weren't able to take the MuGard in a timely fashion?

I did develop mouth sores. Mine were not as severe as some on here. I did not have a PEG tube & continued to eat by mouth with the help of numbing & pain meds. I'm not sure if having the mugard from the beginning would have prevented the sores, but I think Pheannie & Lauralyn both started with the mugard & had success with it/fewer or no sores. Definitely something to talk more with your mom's Dr about. 

sorry, dbl post 

J.R. and June said:

Thanks DJ

I will be sure to keep you posted. I am sure there will be lots more questions.

The Zofran really helped Jim. They gave him a dose at the chemo clinic then instructed him to take a dose immediately when he went home. Like the pain meds you have to stay ahead of the nausia. He didn't have mouth sores so no need for Mugard

Debbie

J.R. and June said:

Hi KTeacher

Thank you for the post. Sorry if this is a dumb questions, but what does cyberknife mean?

Also, did you start taking the Zofran right away or only when the nausea started?

Cyberknife is a different more pinpointed delivery of radiation.  I don't think that it is used until other radiation has been tried.  I am on my 4th Head and Neck cancer since 2010, nerves on cheek were involved.  Cyberknife was 5 treatments at 30-40 minutes each.

Zofran for chemo--as soon as the first wave of nausea came on I took it, never waited for another wave (the first day I waited, got sick quite a bit)

Superthread--have you read the Superthread.  Tons of information to use before, during and after treatment.

phrannie51 said:

I don't understand some of these Drs....

In the case of Mugard, it's supposed to be started the day a person starts radiation....I didn't start it until about a week in....and had a sore starting on my upper lip....when I got the Mugard, the sore was in the "sandpaper" stage.  That's where a place/spot on the inside of a person's mouth takes on a grainy feel when felt with the tongue.  The Mugard staved off that sore, and I never got another.  She'll feel the beginings of a sore and when she does tell her to demand Mugard.  I don't know why some of these guys are so obstinant...like they are paying for it or something.

I had Zophran, Compasine, Atavan....and Emend.  The Dr. might be holding off on the Emend, since she's getting a smaller dose of chemo every week, whereas I had a huge dose every 3 weeks....doing a wait and see on it...it doesn't sound like he'd be against using it if she needs it, tho. 

Good luck to mama.....sounds like she's about to get on the bus and get this trip moving.

p

I think Mugard is in trials and maybe not fully endorsed by all.  That could be part of reason you have to push the issue a bit more.  

Here is a very strange story about my experience with Mugard and my RO.  I ask about Mugard and it turns out he is leading a stage 3 clinical trial with Mugard. He asks if I want to participate. Basically there are just two groups :  those using it and a placebo. I declined as my preference was to actually use it rather than have a 50% chance. Well,  he never prescribed it.  Go figure that one.  He'd give it to me via the trial but not give it to me if I did not participate. 

Salt and baking soda in warm water worked for the most part.