Funny you mention the magic mouthwash.  At 3 weeks in to the treatment my doctor gave us instructions to make a mix of Malox, Benadryl, lidocaine (local anesthetic) and Nystatin (antifungal).  He gave me instructions to gargle 30 minutes before every meal.  At that time I was experiencing throat discomfort and difficulties passing solid food.  My wife mixed it and it worked very well.  I used it for a week and for some odd reason the throat pain went away and I am now on my last 2 radiation treatments and the pain barely came back but I am still able to eat solids.   The discomfort is tolerable at this point.  It stinks though because everything smells so good but when you eat it, the taste isn’t there which leads to major disappointment but I force myself to eat.  I dream of the day I can taste things again.  The only other major issue is dry mouth and a lot of my dental work fell out even with constant brushing with fluoride toothpaste.  Doctor said I won’t be able to do anything with my teeth for at least 6 months.  So far some of the dental work stayed in and I’m hoping to maintain until I can get them refilled in 6 months. ... View more

Hey Bill,   I am not in post.  Actually, I am on week 5 of 7 on my radio.  I of course have the dry mouth constantly and it used to drive me up the wall at night as you explained.  I bought a humidifier and put it next to my bed with the idea that I would be breathing in moist air and maybe it would help.  I ran it past my doctor and he said not a bad idea.   It has worked wonders!  It doesn’t get rid of the dry mouth but it alleviates the dry mouth and throat a lot and I can sleep now.  Also, around week 3 I was having pains swallowing.  Not bad but bothersome.  After using the humidifier and drinking aloe Vera Juice and praying, I am in week 5 with no pain whatsoever!  I don’t which one is working but I am very great full at this point.  I can attest the humidifier helps with the dry mouth at night.  I place it right nest to me so I am breathing the moist air.   Hope this helps.   Ernie ... View more

Good news!  The swelling went down.  Seems I was being not so smart sleeping on my left side and this past weekend I was  knocked out most of the time.  Doctor’s did say that my lymph nodes are swollen but the radio would be destroying them eventually so if all goes well it will eventually go down.  Maybe not until post but it should fix itself eventually.   Now I did take that with a grain of salt because anything can happen from reading these forums.  Good news was that they were thinking of pulling the treatment yesterday if it was a tumor.  They did get alarmed but now they are more at ease! ... View more

Thanks for your responses.  I went to see the doctor today and my doctor sent me to get an echo to see what's going on and prescribed an anti-inflammatory.  I will see the doctor tomorrow so he can examine the echo and see what the path forward will be.  I will definitely let you guys know what he says.   So far I was able to weather the Chemo.  I have my next chemo next week.  I spent years doing Jiu Jitsu, so I am taking the old Jiu Jitsu mentality.  Feeling comfortable in an uncomfortable situation.  I know this will be a long road and week 3 in it seems like an eternity to go but I am, sure time will pass.  One day at a time.  As long and I can get rid of the cancer it's worth the every bit of it.  My doctors have warned me of how it may get and also post treatment side effects.   He said all of his patients react differently so there is no formula to predict how my body will react.  My doctor told me that it will be a long time before I will be at 80-90% but never 100% again.  He is radiating both sides but is giving a lower dose on my right side that doesn't have activity in order to try and preserve as much function post since my left side will be destroyed and said will probably never come back.  He told me that during post to take the little victories.  If today you wake up 1% better that is 1% more than yesterday.  My doctors are pretty honest with me but tell me to take the approach of not worrying until we have to worry.   The road does scare me but no pain no gain right?   Thanks everybody for you advices and sharing their experiences.  I have already used a few tips posted here. I am still eating solid food with a little discomfort but I'm constituently swallowing and drinking water, even though the water is starting to taste funny.  My goal is to eat solid until I can no longer even with pain in order to keep strong.  We'll see how that turns out.  I am starting to feel discomfort eating but it goes away after the first few bite.  I also found a humidifier a God sent.   Peace, Ernie   PS:  I know it's about keeping a good attitude.  I leave this once Jiu Jitsu Quote   “Everyone is the same for the first two minutes, everyone has a chance to win, but after that you start to seperate physically and mentally.” Marcelo Garcia   ... View more

Hello CaptainAustralia,   A while back, I noticed a lump on the left side of my throat.  I went to the doctor and after doing a cat scan and biopsy by aspiration, I was diagnosed with a branchial cyst and it was negative for cancer.  So we scheduled the surgery to remove the cyst.   While the surgeon was inside, he noticed two lymph nodes unusually attached to my carotid artery so he removed them and sent them to pathology.   Unfortunately the pathology came out positive for cancer.  They diagnosed me with Metastatic Neck Cancer with Occult Primary.  They ran a marker test that came out positive for HPV.  They also ran a MRI with contrast and could not locate a primary tumor.  I am not a smoker nor a drinker so we are assuming that HPV is the primary cause.  We waited a month and did a PET scan which was inconclusive.  the pet showed inflammation in the lymph nodes on the left side and activity in the left tonsil which was also classified as inflammation.  My surgeon wanted to perform a radical neck dissection and remove my tonsils followed by radiation.   We went to visit an oncology group.  After reviewing the PET, pathology, and previous MRI with contrast, they recommended a combo of chemo and radiation therapy.  They explained that they have been seeing an increase in this type of situation and have been very successful with this treatment option.  They did say that the neck dissection was more successful but not by much.   My wife and I weighed both options heavily.  Neck dissection seemed to radical of a procedure for something the doctors can't find and has many possible quality of life ramifications so we decided on the radiation and chemo option.   I am currently on week 2 of radiation and did my fist chemo on week one.  So far so good.  The chemo made me tired and the only bad side effect was the constipation which was solved with medication.  I completed week 2 of radiation and so far am only suffering the side effects of dry mouth.  A tiny bit of irritation swallowing but not enough to prevent me from eating solids still.   The only major issue is that my left side has blown up like a ballon. I noticed the swelling start the first week and the doctor said my lymph nodes were swollen but not to a concern.  At the end of week two its as if my lymph node is a knot still growing and doesn't move around any more.  It is also sensitive to the touch.  Not painful but sensitive.  The doctor said that they were going to keep monitoring it and that it may just be inflammation from the radiation.   I am getting concerned because it's growing instead of getting smaller.  Maybe I'm just being paranoid.  anybody else experience this?   Any insight of help would be greatly appreciated!   I am scheduled for my next chemo on week 4. ... View more