Hi
i have been given the following
Gelclair
musodyne syrup
difflam rinse benzydamme hydrochoride

I am on my 3rd day of rt and have been given no information of when to start takink them

Do i start now or wait to the symtoms worsen

Regards
Dave and Sue

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dr Vinod K Joshi,

Hello
I have just completed R/T and chemo treatment for tonsil cancer two weeks ago today.

I would suggest that you start using a mouth wash regularly such as salt and bi carb, ( 500 ml water 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of bi carb.

I found that during second or third week things tend to get worse, mouth can become ulcerated, swallowing difficult, and saliva become very thick.

You will then perhaps need to use the musodyne (I beleive that this help with thick mucus).
Difflam is really good and I have used loads of this both with a little water and neat, try gargling with the difflam.

Gelclair I found it difficult to use as it seem to be very thick like the muscus, but i did use a little to coat my tongue and the worsre area where the ulcer were in my mouth.

Good luck with the treatment.

This is the first time I have looked at or used the web site, ( my wife Kate has registered on the this web site).

Regards


Tony and Kate

Thank you both for the advice

will make some up today

3rd day of Rt

Regards
Dave and Sue

Hello Dave and Susan

Tony's advice is spot-on.

To relieve discomfort you could also try the following suggestions:
(1) Rinse with a warm, dilute solution of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) or salt & bicarbonate every two hours to bathe the tissues and control oral acidity. Two teaspoons of bicarbonate (or one teaspoon of table salt plus one teaspoon of bicarbonate) per quart solution is recommended. Use the 'salt+bicarb' mouthwash often as it is soothing, counters the dryness and removes thick saliva.
(2) Use the Mucodyne when the saliva gets stringy; it helps thin it.
(3) Use the Difflam (Benzydamine hydrochloride) spray for pain relief with the mouth ulcers (mucositis). It has been shown in single-center and multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trials that topical benzydamine reduces the frequency and severity of ulcerative oral lesions and decreases pain in radiation-induced oral mucositis.
(4) Use the Gelclair for pain relif after the Diflam to coat the ulcers; it relieves pain by forming a protective coating.

Hope that helps, Good luck.

Best wishes
Vinod

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dr Vinod K Joshi,

Thank you Dr Vinod for your prompt response. I have made up the 'salt & bicarb' mouthwash for David to try. We will take on board the other instruction you have provided.
Sue

David and Susan

For more in depth information on what works and what doesn't, please read this guidelines document from the Mucositis Study Group of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) and the International Society of Oral Oncology (ISOO):

quote:

Clinical practice guidelines for the prevention and treatment of cancer therapy-induced oral and gastrointestinal mucositis

CANCER, Volume 100, Issue S9, Pages 2026-2046
Published Online: 19 Apr 2004
Copyright © 2004 American Cancer Society


Easier Reading:
Summary of Evidence-based Clinical Practice Guidelines for Care of Patients with Oral and Gastrointestinal Mucositis (2005 Update)

Best wishes
Vinod

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dr Vinod K Joshi,