Mouth Sores 5Fu

Hi all - looking for some insight! My husband has nasopharyngeal - did 7 weeks of rad tx with concurrent carbo - never had a mouth sore. Just finshed second adjuvent tx with carbo and 5FU - no mouth sores with first adjuvent chemo. He started second chemo tx with bad case of thrush. Treating thrush with 400mg/day diflucan for past week - now down to 200mg/day - thrush is better, but when that left - mouth sores kicked in. 5FU infusion ended 6 days ago when sores started. Any insight on how long these sores last? Will this get any better before final 5FU tx mid August? We are doing all the usual - magic mouth wash, good oral health, etc... Dr. poo-pooed trying Caphasol - indicating it is more for radiation tx - any experience with this?

My husband's primary tumor was in nasopharynx with little neck involvement - therefore the rad was focused on the head not neck. He never got a PEG tube and has not needed it, but sores are causing so many problems with only about 2 1/2 weeks until final treatment, any advice is great as we want to make it through the final treatment. For the first time, he seems really beat down - I am fishing for a light at the end of the tunnel!

Thanks - Cathie 

Hi Cathie,

I too got mouth sores from 5-FU. They were one of the worse parts of my treatment. I had them for about 3 weeks and then they cleared up. They has spread to my lips and nasal passage as well. I did all of the same things your husband is doing and none of it really helped. I wound up toughing out the 3 weeks then they went away. I was EXTREMELY grateful! His will eventually go away also. I only have one bit of advice...since he must keep up his dental hygeine get his a baby's first toothbrush. They are the only ones with bristles soft enough that they won't hurt him. The head is also smaller so he can move it around easier in his mouth without hitting any sores.

Good Luck!

joe

On 7/24/2008 CAW888 wrote:

Hi all - looking for some insight! My husband has nasopharyngeal - did 7 weeks of rad tx with concurrent carbo - never had a mouth sore. Just finshed second adjuvent tx with carbo and 5FU - no mouth sores with first adjuvent chemo. He started second chemo tx with bad case of thrush. Treating thrush with 400mg/day diflucan for past week - now down to 200mg/day - thrush is better, but when that left - mouth sores kicked in. 5FU infusion ended 6 days ago when sores started. Any insight on how long these sores last? Will this get any better before final 5FU tx mid August? We are doing all the usual - magic mouth wash, good oral health, etc... Dr. poo-pooed trying Caphasol - indicating it is more for radiation tx - any experience with this?

My husband's primary tumor was in nasopharynx with little neck involvement - therefore the rad was focused on the head not neck. He never got a PEG tube and has not needed it, but sores are causing so many problems with only about 2 1/2 weeks until final treatment, any advice is great as we want to make it through the final treatment. For the first time, he seems really beat down - I am fishing for a light at the end of the tunnel!

Thanks - Cathie 

 

Hi Cathie

I'm not sure wat you are talkng about w/ the magic mouth wash so I may be telling you what you are already trying.  I used 1 tsp of salt and 1 tsp of baking soda in a glass of water to rinse my mouth several times a day.  I also used the real magic - stomatitis cocktail - the orange stuff that is benadryl and lidocaine.  This takes a prescription to get.  You just swish it around and then swallow.  Numbs all the way down.  I wish your husband the best and pray for everyone on this site.

Diana 

Hi Cathie,  I had the same type of cancer with the same problems,  I did the majic mouthwash which was a temporary relief.  It sounds as if your husband did very well through his treatments,  I had a few more problems and had a rough time with it.  The mouth sores do go away just as fast as they came.  It is not a long term thing, but it is uncomfortable.  I had the sores all through radiation and chemo and ended up with a feeding tube because I could not swallow.  Does he have problems with dry mouth also?  I agree with the baby tooth brush, you can also try using alcohol free dental hygiene products (toothpaste and mouthwash), they seem to help also.  You can find these products in the toothpaste isles at the grocery store, they cost a little more but are very good.

Hope this helps.

Nicola.

On 7/25/2008 nic70 wrote:

Hi Cathie,  I had the same type of cancer with the same problems,  I did the majic mouthwash which was a temporary relief.  It sounds as if your husband did very well through his treatments,  I had a few more problems and had a rough time with it.  The mouth sores do go away just as fast as they came.  It is not a long term thing, but it is uncomfortable.  I had the sores all through radiation and chemo and ended up with a feeding tube because I could not swallow.  Does he have problems with dry mouth also?  I agree with the baby tooth brush, you can also try using alcohol free dental hygiene products (toothpaste and mouthwash), they seem to help also.  You can find these products in the toothpaste isles at the grocery store, they cost a little more but are very good.

Hope this helps.

Nicola.

Hi,

 My husband had chemo-Cisplatin and 5FU along with radiation to the face and neck for maxillary sinus cancer-SNUC.  He also developed mouth sores which we though were primarily from the Cisplatin and radiation, but he used Ulcer Ease and felt it helped.  You can get it at Walgreen's-they ordered it for him and you can also purchase it over the internet.  "Miracle mouthwash helped some as well.

  He did end up with a feeding tube and is now 3 months post treatment and still has some sores on tongue, but it is better.  He also tried Caphasol after trreatment was done and did not find it helpful-pretty expensive too.

Best of luck to you,

Kathy

Would you tell me what the prescription was that your dentist gave you for the mouth sores.

I  would like to get it from my dentist.

thanks

Hi everyone - my husband's last chemo (5-FU) is being cancelled this week since his mouth sores were so bad that he was admitted to the hosp. a week and a half ago (fever and low white blood counts) - even today, the pain killers are not sufficient and they will have to up his dosage again (patch plus intrav.) and hopefully this will result in his being released home.  He had two weeks of chemo so far and this was to be his last - he has been receiving radioth. every day as well. He has a feeding tube since he's not able to swallow anythng but he does gargle with baking soda - (too much pain to include salt)

 My husband has tonsil cancer (right side) and after the first week of chemo and rad., the tumour had all but dissappeared. I don't know if they will cancel the chemo altogether or just postpone it or if they will give him something else to replace it.

Nothing prepares you for any of this - I read some info on the web but when reality strikes, you are in for a shock....I'm seeing him at the hospital this afternoon and will suggest Stomatitis cocktail as well as get "Ulcer Ease"...and keep reading for any add'l hints from any of you.

May you all have the courage and wisdom to bear this experience which is difficult both for the person who is suffering and those who are seeing the suffering....

I am so sorry to hear that your husband is having such a rough time, but it is not surprising-these drugs are strong enough to kill the cancer and really do a number on the healthy cells as well.  My husband also went through the severe pain- he was on a Fentanyl patch as well as supplement Morphine either IV or through his feeding tube.

It has gotten better now that he is 3 months post chemo/radiation, but still has sores on tongue and has to be very careful what he eats.  Hang in there- prayer certainly helps and tjhe support on this message board- you find out you are not alone.

Kathy