What medicine protects saliva glands during throat cancer treatment?

I have cancer in my tongue that spread to my lymph nodes. 35 radiation treatments and 6 rounds of cisplatin. The treatment was HORRIBLE

Yes, this is my second time. Treatment is hard. But, I have a new granddaughter I want to watch grow up. After treatment the first time I carried a large water with me and still do everywhere I go. Some saliva has returned. I tried many things to help but at the end of the day I still had to go to hospital for fluids. Did your husband have surgery or only rad and chemo? Best of luck.

It sounds like you're being proactive about protecting against xerostomia (dry mouth), which is a common side effect of radiation therapy to the head and neck area. While amifostine was previously used for salivary gland protection, there are other approaches that oncology teams may recommend, including pilocarpine or other medications that can help stimulate saliva production during or after treatment. Your medical team will be the best resource for discussing current options available at your treatment center and what might work best for your husband's specific treatment plan.