Community Blog
November 6, 2007
| Mouth Sores | Views: 606 |
When my oncologist went over the potential side effects of the different types of therapy that were being considered to treat my breast cancer, it was at the high level. Since, what I was told fit in with the movie of the week scenarios, I didn’t think that there were so many things that had to be watched for.
My first day of chemotherapy I watched a DVD that gave me a vast amount of information on all sorts of side effects, like mouth sores, nail damage, and on and on. I was stunned. I replayed the DVD and took notes but the side effects weren’t listed to specific therapies.
I then went out on the internet and researched and found information like Sherri has just posted.
I also found information on mouth sores. After my second chemotherapy treatment, my mouth was totally raw and
I found it almost impossible to eat.
Based on the web sites, you should first switch to a very soft tooth brush. Also, they do not recommend using alcohol based mouth wash. They do recommend using a mouth wash mainly composed of baking soda and water. Some recommend adding some salt to the mixture. Also, when I was at the drug store, I found a mouth wash specifically formulated for chemotherapy patients. It was very expensive so I have opted to use the baking soda, which is very cheap.
So far, while my mouth becomes somewhat sensitive after chemotherapy, I haven’t had the initial raw mouth problem again.
Thanks for your support -
I didn’t get mouth sores during chemotherapy. I’m not sure if it’s because they had me suck on a popsicle the entire time I was getting the chemo medicine injected – but, it seemed to have worked for me. I hope this helps. Good luck with the rest of your treatments!
I did have mouth sores while on chemo. It is very common for the chemo drugs they use for colon cancer. I got a prescription from the doctor for something called magic mouthwash. It is really like orajel for the mouth, it just makes it numb for a little while. I tried the toothpaste, a very soft toothbrush, mouthwash without alcohol, nothing really worked well but the magic mouthwash worked the best.
Donna
Yes, mouth sores are rather specific to the type of chemotherapy you are receiving.
I’m lucky since my mouth irritation is mild. The baking soda wash is fine for me. Others need more in depth treatment.
The soft tooth brush is to keep from hurting your gums and allowing bacteria in. I didn’t realize how open we are to infection until I started reading all the cautions on the cancer websites.
Of course, you can’t keep from living and you are going to be exposed a great deal of bacteria. You just need to be cautious and certainly take care of any potential infection immediately.
Mouth sores is one of the more common side effects on Xeloda, the chemo drug I’m taking. For me, fortunately, it’s been, at most, a mild irritation. I’ve been swishing with Listerine, brushing with a soft-bristled toothbrush, and flossing after every meal. Those tasks seem to have helped me. It’s when I stop swishing with Listerine that I notice my mouth starts to get irritated and over-sensitive…so I start right back up again. Listerine is my friend. :-)
I had bad mouth sores with the drug Cytarabine. I literally could barely drink water or Ensure for 3 weeks. I even had them in my throat. My doctor gave me “miles solution” a little concoction that numbs the mouth and also has a little antibiotic to help heal. When you’re done swishing, you swallow so the throat get some too. This helped slightly at mealtimes and is very helpful as a preventative measure, when your mouth is healthy.
This time I had Cytarabine, I tried a new drug called Kepivance. I think it is a growth hormone or something. Anyway, it is just a push in your IV 3 days before chemo and 3 days after. I lost my taste buds but I had no mouth sores for 10 days after my chemo, and although they are back now, the pain is less severe. Ask your doctor about the drug, also insurance may not cover it. Mine did, though.
Good luck!
Josi