I was almost halfway through chemorad for radiation to the mediastinal positive node this past Tuesday when I was ready to quit. The erosive esophagitis was just so painful that I was at my wits end. Nothing was working until my Rad Onc recommended Carafate. It works! I get immediate relief with continued improvement each day. Luckily I don't have any mouth sores, so there's no need to swish (cause it taste absolutely horrid...but still worth it). I crush the pill and dilute it with 1-2 tsp of water, then use a large syringe to drizzle it at the back of my throat. It comes in liquid form but my pharmacist said it's very expensive. 120 pills (calls for 4 a day but I only need to use 1 pill a day) costs over $300. Fortunately I have a really good drug plan that paid in full (just not the liquid form).
I've suffered from laryngopharyngeal reflux for years, but radiation to the esophageal region this time really set the erosive esophagitis off. I have seven more rads and one sensitizing chemo after today. I can do this!
Posting to help anyone else who might be searching in need of relief someday.