mouth sores

I am so sorry that you are struggling right now.  I know the pain all too well.  It eventually felt like my whole mouth and tongue went thru a blender and I couldn't talk.  I had lost 55 lbs. during my chemo, mostly from hardly being able to eat without pain.  Water was horrible from the oxcilaplatin (too warm--yuck---too cold---and the sharp daggers in my throat--i referred to as the 'spike ball') and juice would sting and tasted horrible too.  I used countless magic mouthwash rinses and eventually was in so much pain that percoset didn't even work much.  My onc. prescribed morphine in liquid.  I took that a few times and it tasted horrible (thick like honey?!) and I guess it helped, but who wants to be on narcotics.  They are all quick fixes.  There's got to be a solution, even if a cancer patient has to visit a dentist everyday for novacaine injections!   Hang in there and once you are done with chemo, then your mouth can heal.  Drink vanilla Ensure shakes, if you can.  I remember chooclate stung.  Here's a hug!

-Melanie (I just found this board!)

age: 36 ; '3' kids, (ages 7, 5, 2)

stage 3c colon cancer survivor

dx 11/07 & finished chemo in 6/08

14 out of 32 positive lymph nodes (very scary # for me!)

CEA count never higher than 11? and down to .4 now

*i signed on to read some survivor stories :)   ...this is a great message board! 

Melanie..

Thanks for the reply and the positive energy and understanding. I love hearing from survivors as it reminds me most situations are just bumps in the road as I continue on this journey. God Bless and hugs to you, Tina 

Tina,

Does your current chemo include 5-FU?  At my last appt I had a sore on my lip.  My oncologist said that at my next infusion to ask for ice chips.  I am to put one on my lip and several in my mouth during the 5-FU bolus and then do the same for the next couple of days while I am hooked up to the pump.  He said the cold would reduce the amount of 5-FU going to the lining of my mouth.  I am not on Oxaliplatin so I can do this. 

I also make sure that I brush my teeth 4 times a day to reduce the bacteria in my mouth.  If your mouth is too sore for that, rinse with salt water often.  Also, it might help to get a less sensitive toothpaste.

Jack

On 7/24/2009 nursetina wrote:

I've been on and off different chemo treatments for a year for stage 3 colon ca with mets. Mouth sores have been an ongoing issue. I've been given steroid pastes, magic mouthwash,lydocain which are just a temporary fix. Any ideas? Thanks, Tina

I had the same issue 13 years ago when I was recovering from a stage 2 and taking 5FU and Lukovorin (sp?).  I had a cousin that worked as an RN and she told me to try Vitamin E "Liquid" caplets.  Break them open and rub the liquid on your mouth sores. I used it like chapstik and it solved my problems.

I hope this helps.