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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Dryness in mouth after Radium Treatment
This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury.
Dryness in mouth after Radium Treatment
by Margarose__0, Dec 05, 1998 12:00AM
Thankyou for the opportunity to ask this question, A rather small one but important to my mother, 73 who has a secondary brain tumor. She underwent 5 radium treatments of the brain for an inoperable tumor and the miniscule amount of information that we were given says to contact your doctor if you have a dry mouth or sores. She had the radium 10 weeks ago and is often very dry and thirsty. This worries her. Can you reassure me that being a bit thirsty albeit quite frequently, that there is no cause for concern? We have been to the doctors several times as a result of falling and breaking her arm but she has never let on that this is a major worry for her. She doesn't want to "bother" doctors and always says she's feeling fine, I told her I could get an answer from you to put her mind at rest.
I read up on your information about brain tumors and I think I have an answer to a question that I was going to ask. Why, when my mother only showed speech problems on initial diagnosis is she so unsteady? I could not work out whether it was deximetizone, radium or the tumor. Am I right in thinking it is the tumor and that her balance will not be restored ?
Your earlier assistance was invaluable to us as it appeared treatment for depression was correct.
Thankyou,Margaret Rose
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Dry mouth is one of the most common side effects of radiation therapy to the head and neck, it is due to damage of the glands which secrete saliva by the radiation. There are mouth moistening agents available which can make this much more tolerable, so I suggest that you definitely "bother" your doctor about this, it's his job to minimise the discomfort of side effects like this !!
The unsteadiness could be due to a number of factors , depending on where the tumor is located, it could cause the problem directly, especially if the cerebellum is involved. If there is raised presure inside the skull as a result of the tumor it could also produce this problem and in addition steroids cause muscle wasting which may lead to generalized weakness and consequent unsteadiness. You might benefit from an assessment by a physical therapist to help you with this
