Hi

Ive had similar treatment for squamous cell skin cancer in saliva glands neck and throat. The radiotherapy has caused the most long term side effects. You need to take really good care of your mouth, throat and teeth. You should be using a high fluoride toothpaste like Colgate Duraphat, 3x day, in UK this is only available on prescription. Use a soft toothbrush and also clean your tongue and roof of mouth. Avoid all sugar, including soft drinks, sugar in tea or coffee, buscuits cake ice cream etc. See your dentist 2x year and your hygeinist 4x year. If you need to get a tooth extracted because of dental caries it can lead to big problems due to bone death caused by the radiotherapy. Also you need to be doing swallowing excercises and neck stretching excercises each day as the radiotherapy can destroy the elasticity of the muscles in your neck and tongue. I have a dry mouth and sore throat 18 months on but its not as bad as it was, I have learned to deal with it, I can taste my food now but I still have difficulty swallowing and problems with mucous in throat due to lack of saliva. I carry a sports type water bottle everywhere and use artificial saliva from a tube especially at night. I agree its the hardest thing I've ever had to deal with. Hope your recovery goes well. Kim