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Saliva and dry mouth: Head and neck cancer and treatments
Many of us have this problem. Three years after RT and lots of talks by oncologists at our meetings and I'm still learning new details about this side effect. Some people have no saliva for life because their glands have been wrecked by the treatment, some recover some function as late as 2 years after (is that right?). Most people though have to manage a more or less dry mouth with constant to frequent sips of water or gels and sprays.
Even worse is what lack of saliva does to your teeth. I've learnt that normal saliva is continually building up the teeth and that without it we are in danger of rampant dental decay without extra fluoride treatment or heroic effects to keep out mouth acid neutral.
How do other manage this problem? What tips do you have?
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@jersey72 You are correct about the lack of help with stimulation of the salivary glands. The common drugs prescribed result in unwanted side effects such as profuse sweating and an increase in thirst.
We also learn that most PC’s rarely if ever deal directly with head and neck cancer patients. We are the rare. What you had is even more rare. We do have one another to lean on and learn from, so that is a plus.
I hope your voice gets repaired. I know of two people who are mute and their lives are a bit more complicated than most could realize, especially during a traffic stop.
Hi William,
I joined this group for information and also to pass along information that might be helpful to others. Due to the cancer, my left vocal cord is paralyzed. In 2021, I had a fat injection into that vocal cord and ended up with epigolotitis. Very rare, but something to be aware of if considering a fat injection. This past spring I had a choking incident that landed me in the ER and I decided it was time to do something about the swallowing issue (partly due to the paralysis and partly damage from radiation). Anyway, found a great ENT here in northern California Dr. Sumana Jothi, and just had a laryngoscopy to enlarge esophagus and also to do injection into vocal fold. Successful with swallowing, not so much with voice (lots of scar tissue bc of prior surgery) so she's going to do a Thyroplasty the end of this month, for a more permanent solution. I'm looking forward to the results and will let the group know how the procedure goes. I have xerostomia from the radiation, and I did share what I'm doing to help with that, unfortunately every doctor I talk to doesn't have much in the way of help with stimulation of salivary glands.
So there you have it, my best to everyone.
@jersey72 I see you are new here in the Head and Neck Cancer group, so I wanted to welcome you. We don’t have many thyroid cancer patients here. Your information and input is greatly appreciated.
All I know about tall cell papillary cancer is that it is the most common type of thyroid cancer, and also a more aggressive type. I wish I didn’t know that but it was in consideration for me after I had radiation to a tonsil followed by thyroid issues a few months later, which turned out to be a bruised thyroid wing. Water under bridge.
Anyway it appears you had a rough go of it but doing better now. Thanks for providing valuable insight to this group.
Hello,
I'm new to this group, but had radiation to the neck for tall cell papillary cancer 5 years ago. Yes, dry mouth is a problem, it's gotten a little better over the last couple of years. I take Cevelimine, prescription required, 3 times a day to help. Also have had 5 teeth pulled, and done implants. Prior to that I had hyperbaric treatments in order to prevent osteoradiosarcoma (I didn't know about this) because of the high level of radiation I recieved. This is
important to look into. So far, no problems. I hope this information helps. And all my best to you
Carol
I have dry mouth, although it does not sound a severe as yours. I take Cevemeline three times a day which helps quite a bit. At night, I use dental trays with fluoride gel and add a dry mouth gel to the tray. I also use a couple sprays of Aquoral, a prescription product, to help with the dryness.
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2 ReactionsI still use Biotene. Like t(r flavor too. But take a cevimeline at night. Used to
Take 3/ day but now only one. I’m 8 yrs out. I pay $65 usually with Goodrx but it is worth it. Lasts me for 90 days, since original,script was for 3 / day. 😉Wish you the best.
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1 ReactionHi @george6530, what type of head and neck cancer did you have? What helps you to eat with dealing with excessive saliva?
Hi
I have a dry mouth with I think a slightly numb tongue'. If I try and drink water/milk A2 before bed a little better.
Is it the PRADAXA 110 x twice day.
Especially stopping all Bisoprolol I wil now take note.
cheri Joy
I have the same problem. Excessive saliva makes it hard to eat.
I have the opposite problem with hypersalivation. I have been up since 4 this morning from choking on it. It's sticky stringy foamy saliva every since I had covid last year. Mouth was cultured, I do not have thrush and it just showed normal mouth bacteria, but, this is anything but normal. I could water the yard for my husband. LOL. I have tried everything. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Hugs to all...
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