Mouthsores :(

[teri3]

I'm 10 rounds into 12 of Folfiri+ Avistin and I'm starting to wear a little thin. For about the last month I've started having increased mouth trouble. I'm using water,salt and baking soda rinses several times daily which helped for a while but now it doesn't seem to be working I've got magic mouthwash and they even gave me steroid ointment for the sores. But my whole mouth and even my throat are getting sore! I hate to whine but I'm miserable! Anyone have ANY suggestions?
Thanks
Teri

[KElizabeth]

I know I have worse sores when the air is dry so I sleep with a humidifier. Magic mouthwash with lidocaine works wonders too. It's a prescription mix and can be made with lidocaine or without.

They can improve so hang in there.

[teri3]

Ive got Magic Mouthwash it's not helping. I get a break here in 3 weeks ....I can't wait.
Thanks
Teri

[Maia]

Some things that have helped people with mouth sores:

Gum Cancer-X Gel: http://www.gumbrand.com/gum-canker-x-gel-1772ra.html (imaging putting a kind of Superlglue barrier over each offending sore : )
Episil: http://www.episilusa.com/
Orajel Mouth Sore Gel: http://www.orajel.com/en/Products/adult ... h-Sore-Gel

Hope you feel better soon!

[Green Tea]

Treatment for mouth sores
http://coloncancersupport.colonclub.com/viewtopic.php?t=50402&p=386196#p386196

[CRguy]

An ole skule doctor's trick was to sometimes use silver nitrate solution on a Q-tip to cauterize individual lesions.
Bug your doctor until you get relief.

Best wishes
CR

[teri3]

Thanks for the suggestions I'll look into them . I have to do something I can't hardly talk , which is a problem for me It even hurts down my throat.
Thanks again
Teri

[mypinkheaven]

And I know how much you like spicy food. Ask for more help from your doc!!!

[BUD2016]

a fellow patient today advised on getting Caphosol, which help her tremendously.

[chrissyrice]

I used the product posted above by Maia, just recently and also the magic mouth wash

Orajel Mouth Sore Gel: http://www.orajel.com/en/Products/adult ... h-Sore-Gel

The orajel worked great and being a gel it stayed on well ...

The magic mouth wash I used and put it on cotton balls to place in my gums and let it sit for a while.

[Green Tea]

I think that it might be worthwhile for you to see an EENT doctor to explore your situation further. These doctors have a small scope with a light and camera at the end and they can see what is going on in your throat. Also, you may be able to discuss your oral hygiene strategy with the doctor and perhaps come up with a better strategy. For example, you might be using the wrong kind of toothpaste, or the wrong kind of toothbrush, or you might be using an alcohol-based mouthwash when you should be using an alcohol-free mouthwash, or you might be swallowing your mouthwash when in fact you should be spitting it all out. It never hurts to get a professional opinion for problems like this.

Right now, what you want to do is to stop the mouth sores from migrating past the tonsils and down into the throat and esophagus. If the mouth sores get too far back, then you will not be able to eat or drink anything and they will send you to the hospital for a week or two to have all of your nutrition by TPN (total parenteral nutrition) via IV tubes -- which is not much fun at all. It is very important at this point to be on top of the situation before the sores get into the throat and into the esophagus.

Mouth Care for Cancer Patients (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute)
http://www.dana-farber.org/Health-Library/Mouth-care-for-cancer-patients.aspx

Mouth Sores Caused by Cancer Treatment: How to Cope (Mayo Clinic)
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cancer/in-depth/mouth-sores/art-20045486

[teri3]

Right now, what you want to do is to stop the mouth sores from migrating past the tonsils and down into the throat and esophagus. If the mouth sores get too far back, then you will not be able to eat or drink anything and they will send you to the hospital for a week or two to have all of your nutrition by TPN (total parenteral nutrition) via IV tubes -- which is not much fun at all. It is very important at this point to be on top of the situation before the sores get into the throat and into the esophagus.


Well that doesn't sound like much fun My visiting nurse comes today and I will discuss it with her, she can get a hold of my oncologist quicker than me. I appreciate the help!!

Thanks,

Teri

[KElizabeth]

Just rememberd.. my oncologist gave me a sample of Mu-guard which is an oral adhesive- Ish prescription . It worked well to coat and protect the sores when they were the worst.

[Tnguyen]

My mom had really bad mouthsores when she was on vectibix. She couldnt eat nor drink. And if you're in that much pain, you're allow to whine!!
My mom also used baking soda and salt, she would leave it in her mouth for like a minute. (it helped a little) she also used the magic wash, and it was temporary relief. Another thing she used that helped was Biotiene. It's a mouth wash that keeps your mouth hydrated and apparently it helped eased my mom pain.
One thing my mom did was before she ate, she would use the steroids or pain reliever, to help numb her mouth and then eat. This just makes it easier to eat. Or you can blend your food and drink it.
Another thing would be to ask for a short break and let your mouth heal. If not it could get worse, and while on chemo you need all the nutrients you can get.

Best of luck to you and wish you the absolute best!!

[Bev G]

I think that it might be worthwhile for you to see an EENT doctor to explore your situation further. These doctors have a small scope with a light and camera at the end and they can see what is going on in your throat. Also, you may be able to discuss your oral hygiene strategy with the doctor and perhaps come up with a better strategy. For example, you might be using the wrong kind of toothpaste, or the wrong kind of toothbrush, or you might be using an alcohol-based mouthwash when you should be using an alcohol-free mouthwash, or you might be swallowing your mouthwash when in fact you should be spitting it all out. It never hurts to get a professional opinion for problems like this.

Right now, what you want to do is to stop the mouth sores from migrating past the tonsils and down into the throat and esophagus. If the mouth sores get too far back, then you will not be able to eat or drink anything and they will send you to the hospital for a week or two to have all of your nutrition by TPN (total parenteral nutrition) via IV tubes -- which is not much fun at all. It is very important at this point to be on top of the situation before the sores get into the throat and into the esophagus.

Mouth Care for Cancer Patients (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute)
http://www.dana-farber.org/Health-Library/Mouth-care-for-cancer-patients.aspx

Mouth Sores Caused by Cancer Treatment: How to Cope (Mayo Clinic)
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cancer/in-depth/mouth-sores/art-20045486

You have a couple of things wrong. It is often recommended to swallow the magic mouthwash, thus improving the pain in the throat. No problem doing that. Chemo-related sores VERY often progress to the throat. A lidocaine mouth wash could be a big help. Mouth sores rarely lead to a one-two week hospital stay, and resorting to something as invasive and potentially risky as TPN would generally be on the way-back burner. Please be careful with the advise you are dispensing. I'm sure you are trying to help, butt probably the best advise in this difficult situation it to turn it over to the cancer specialists. an ENT visit should not be necessary.