what to do about mouth sores

[debzak]

So my mouth has been dry for the last few months and food has lost its appeal a while ago. But last week I got my first infusion f Erbitux and since then my mouth is 100X worse. I have sore on the inside of my lower lip and some inside on my cheeks. My tongue feels like sandpaper and sometimes it even feels like it is sticking to the rough of my mouth it is so dry. I am unable to eat unless I use the lidocane rinse before hand, which gives me about 20 minutes to eat. Even then some things are just unbarable.

I use the biotene toothpaste, I have the spray (but tend to forget to use it) and I rinse with a salt water/baking soda mix a few times a day. This is by far the worst side effect I have had and I can't imagine going an other 8 weeks like this till my next scan (when we see if the erbitux gained some control over the tumors).

I don't want to stop the meds due to the side effects, but this one is brutal!! Any suggestions?

debbi

[martoonca]

you need to get a script for "magic mouthwash"......someone will probably give you the full name for it later but the people at your clinic will know what your asking for. Get it as soon as you can it'll make a big difference

[Voxx66]

There was a huge thread about this. I favor Hydrogen Peroxide in one form or the other - and I also use the biotene toothpaste.

[dianne052506]

There is also a lidocaine gel which may help with more direct application to the sores than the rinse. There is also a oral steroid gel, triamcinolone http://www.medicinenet.com/triamcinolone-dental/article.htm which I used at night and saw significant improvement in the morning.
I've gotten Rx for these from my dentist, but I would think your onc would also be able to help.
Good luck.
dianne

[debzak]

Thanks I have the magic mouthwash, it is allowing me to eat. I would love to get rid of the sores for a while between treatments. I will check with my dentist tomorrow.

Debbi

[O Stoma Mia]

There was a huge thread about this. I favor Hydrogen Peroxide in one form or the other - and I also use the biotene toothpaste.

Mouth sores thread

[kirac]

Ok, my friend who was on chemotherapy for breast cancer (she's BRCA) had mouth sores during treatment. She swore by Stevia. No idea if it will help but it can't hurt to try.

[jens22]

Call over to Sloane. The clinic nurses know exactly what to do for Eritux. I have a patient that we do rinses, Magic moulthwash, nystatin and a whole hygiene plan and it helped a lot.

[mstults]

For me hydrogen peroxide did the trick.

[Maia]

The folks here, and in the thread O stoma mia mentioned, have given the best advice.

I would only add that for specific sores that give you trouble you could use GUM® Canker-X® Gel (http://www.gumbrand.com/departments/can ... -canker-x/ Not alcohol or benozocaine; aloe vera). Also (other formulation; it has benzocaine) Orajel™ Mouth Sore Gel ( http://www.orajel.com/adult-oral-care/m ... e-gel.aspx ).
They are not mouthwash but a gel (I think one of them is like a pencil, to apply the gel) that forms a protective shield on the sore, so it helps the sore to heal faster and also it allows you to eat, etc. without trouble, during several hours.

[CRguy]

Just FYI there is one harsh old school treatment I have not seen mentioned here so far, if all the other great advice doesn't work 100% for you debbi.

My BIL used to suffer miserably with recurrent canker sores, I rarely had a few, so tried his remedy .... which started with one of his docs way back. They can be "cauterized" with silver nitrate solution or styptic sticks. He found it was the only thing that worked for painful sores. (( Yes the same things vets use to stop bleeding during nail trims ! ..... tho' they sting a bit ))

See what your doc says ???

Best wishes
CRguy