Saliva Glands

Does anyone have an advice on protecting the saliva glands during radiation treatment? The Dr said for sure my husband will lose one side and the other will be greatly affected. When I asked about meds to help he said he doesn’t prescribe anything because he they are not proven to work and he is not sure how they affect treatment. He will begin on Monday the 14th so would like to have all the information I can before then to talk to the doc about.

Thanks so much

Donna

I'm not sure it's possible to completely protect them, but some on here say that taking glutamine supplement helps minimize damage and aids in recovery. I cant tell you if it works, I found out about it after the fact.

Best wishes

Mike

I got Ethol shots before every radiation treatment and am convinced it helped a lot. I also took the Glutamine, but I think that helped more w/ mouth sores then saliva. Even still and with everything, he will still be affected. It's just part of the process, and in the long run. Not all that unbearable. I just carry a water bottle and drinking a lot of water isn't a bad thing.

Rick

My husband had amophostine shots before each treatment (42 treatments total)

This shot is given to further protect saliva glands. I guess this is a bit controversial in some medical communities but we did it.

We were told that some docs say it doesn't work, however, my hubbie was blasted with rad and he has very good saliva.  

The main complication is nausea, so he took an anti- nausea drug a half hour before treatment and never had an issue with that side effect. Today, his radiologist says that he has more saliva than many of his patients. I would strongly recommend looking into this. Quality of life after treatment is important and the more saliva you have , the better.

I highly recommend gultimine, also. My husband took this all the way thru treatment 30 mg a day - and a boost before radiation treatments. This helped with muscle, saliva and mouth sore prevention.

Just so there isn't any confussion. The amophostine injections and the ethyol are one in the same. I highly recommend them as well, but be prepared for the nausea they can cause. Most people do suffer from that as written. I didn't until the last two weeks, then it got bad.

Good luck and God bless.

Rick

On 4/7/2008 micromisterphone wrote:

I'm not sure it's possible to completely protect them, but some on here say that taking glutamine supplement helps minimize damage and aids in recovery. I cant tell you if it works, I found out about it after the fact.

Best wishes

Mike

We did get that L-Glutamine So we shall see, thank you for the adivce

Have a Great Day

Donna

On 4/7/2008 rick51 wrote:

I got Ethol shots before every radiation treatment and am convinced it helped a lot. I also took the Glutamine, but I think that helped more w/ mouth sores then saliva. Even still and with everything, he will still be affected. It's just part of the process, and in the long run. Not all that unbearable. I just carry a water bottle and drinking a lot of water isn't a bad thing.

Rick

Thanks for the advice on the Amiphostine. one more questions; the Doc already said no to this. Is it our right to demand that My husband be given the Amiphostine? As for the L-Glutamine he is taking a way higher dose than 30 MG I think its more like 1500 MG in a powder form that I purchased from a health food store. Its a good thing my husband trust me because it seems like whatever pill or powder I put in front of him he will take!

Thanks so much to all of you I beleive I have discovered my new life line!

Donna

My radiation oncologist said he didn't think the shots were worthwhile and advised against them, they are also extremely costly and some insurance won't cover them. But I said I wanted them and he caved. If you decide you want them, be persistent. Your radiation oncologist won't give them to you, I had to go to a chemo. facility for them 1/2 hour before the radiation.

The Glutamine powder container says one heaping teaspoon = 5g's. I took two heaping teapsoons mixed w/ Resurgex powder 3x's per day.

Hang in there.

Rick

p.s. In re-reading your email. You are confusing milligrams w/ grams. MG's= milligrams. 30 grams is what I took daily. Not sure how many milligrams that equals.

Rick

PSS

1500 milligrams = 1.5 grams (i think).