Hello

I'm new to this forum and would appreciate some advice. 

I am just starting on week 3 of radiation and chemo for base

of tongue and lymph node cancer. My whole mouth is painful and dry. Teeth have been removed. I can probably start on morphine this week and I am wondering if you can still drive and what side affects from it? I am currently driving myself to treatments. 

Do you have any tips? I'm finding it painful to brush and floss my teeth. Strange taste in mouth. Overall painful. 
Trying to stay positive. 
Karen C 

 

Hi Karen C

i am Hazel I had 35 radiotherapy sessions and 2 chemotherapy sessions for tonsil cancer. Everyone’s is different I certainly couldn’t have driven but I had a hours drive almost each way. As far as I am aware driving and opiates are  not advised. For teeth brushing I got from Amazon curaprox toothbrushes the softest I could find 5400 bristle and only use duraphat toothpaste and still do .you can get biotene mouth gel to rub onto gums and cheeks it may help. I have a blog www.radioactiveraz.wordpress.com it may help you there’s lots if tips and links to other blogs. 

Welcome to the club no one wants to join m the treatment is brutal but yiu are having a lot less radiotherapy than many if us so hopefully yiu won’t be too bad.

hope this helps 

Hazel x

Ah! Thanks Hazel. Thanks for advice. I'm going to get the mouth stuff you recommended and read your blog. Can't get motivated to get out of bed yet. 
cheers

Karen 

Hi Karen

I have also attached my blog that you might find helpful along with Hazels.

I doubt it would be advisable to drive while on morphine as one of the side effects would be drowsiness. I would check as I am sure it will be on one of the banned drugs re new driving laws.

I'm no expert but would probbably advise against, but check even with consultant or support team who might be able to advise better. I drove while on morphine a couple years ago and I seemed fine.

And yup, stay as positive as you can as that goes a long way in treatment and recovery.

Here to help anyway we can if you need it.

radiotherapythroat.home.blog

regards

Ian

Hi Karen you have come to the right place no one knows more about this than Hazel, I asked if I could drive during treatment and was told yes, I was given Pregabalin, Oramorph and liquid Paracetamol but i didnt get on with Oramorph because it gave me chronic constipation so i didnt take it for long.

Stay postive weve had one of the most treatable cancers.

Dave

Hi Ian

Thanks for your reply. I'm taking on all the advice I can get. I will certainly read your blog. I want to try and stay off morphine as long as possible (although I won't be a martyr  to pain) so that I can drive to treatment. Unfortunately my husband died two weeks ago and I am struggling on my own. The hospital is difficult to get to on public transport and Uber us £18 each way. 
Thanks again 

best wishes 

Karen

Thank you Dave

I am so pleased I joined this group. Getting lots of good advice and I have already acted on buying mouth stuff. 

I have all of the above apart from oramorph but should have it this week. The Pregablin I only take at night as it completely knocks me out. Good to know driving is ok. 
Trying to stay positive but my husband died two weeks ago. I started treatment the day he died! 
thank you again

best wishes

Karen
 

So sorry about your husband and then you get diagnosed too, life can be so cruel.

Dave

Oh Karen so sorry to hear about your hubby how cruel can life be . Just ask anything in here ine if us will get back to you. Between us all we are fountains of knowledge most of it useful . Do you have a Macmillann or cancer nurse assigned to you ? If so they are also pretty good.

sending a Sunday hug. If u want to send a friend request please do 

Hazel x