Tooth Question

I did not have chemo, so I can't speak to that, but I know that the first time I saw my oncologist, he asked me if i had been having any trouble with my gums (I was severely anemic when my cancer was discovered). I said no at the time, but later remembered that one day last summer, a tooth got very loose and just fell out.

Gail

nudgie,... Chemo, and especially radiation can definitely cause bone loss, and not necessarily just at the spot where you were x-rayed. I had a lot of bone loss in my jaw, which caused a lot of tooth problems. Had I realized it sooner, it might have been covered by my medical insurance, but the problem didn't really show itself 'til about 1 1/2 years after the treatments and by then it was considered a dental problem. You know how the insurance companies can sometimes do their darndest not to approve coverage. Can,t help you with the eye question. I started wearing glasses several years before meeting the beast, and the intervals for needing new glasses didn't change too much, except maybe a little bit due to getting older..... Carl

Hello,
I am a caregiver for my husband and also a dental hygienist. Unfortunately, when most are diagnosed with cancer - few oncologists include the "mouth" in their treatment plans. As far as your teeth go the chemo does not "cause" tooth problems...BUT when you have a dry mouth for whatever reason, you lose your ability to naturally fight cavities. Also, many cancer patients have lozengers or candies to help remove a bad taste or relieve dry mouth and both will raise your risk dramatically for cavities. Anyone on chemo and or radiation should see their dentist and get on a preventive program for their oral health.

I have had my husband on Colgate's prescription Prevident 5000 Booster (extra fluoride to brush with that strengthens your teeth) and the Biotene products (toothpaste, gum, saliva substitute and mouthwash - all with enzymes and antibacterial ability to replace what saliva naturally does for you). My husband has been on some type of chemo (except for a few months) since 11/04. So far, his preventive regiment has been successful for him. I have all my oncology patients on the same regiment.
If you have other dental concerns--let me know.
Mary Kay

Hi Nudgie,

Ugh...survive cancer and end up with mouth and eye problems, but isn't it great to be otherwise healthy?

Fortunately for me, my teeth or eyes did not get any better or worse after treatment. Before I started chemo my onc suggested I get a dental check up to make sure my mouth was healthy prior to starting chemo, and my dentist suggested the same things Mary Kay did...practice good dental hygiene...I used gentle tooth brushes, oral rinse and the Biotene products. I came out unscathed.

Perhaps your issue might be a combination of after affects of cancer and simply getting older. My eyes went bad before I got cancer and really can't get any worse, otherwise I will be taking a seeing eye dog to CP6!

As Mick Jagger says....."what a drag it is getting old...."

Mouth and Eye Problem
I have been a member for several years, but have not really posted until just recently. Wish I had sooner.

I had terrible problems with my gums during chemo. To this day I have my teeth cleaned every 4 months so that my gums do not get any worse. Oncologist told me not to go to the dentist while I was having chemo done.

As for the eyes. My eys definitely got worse during chemo. I wore glases prior to chemo for reading and have had them changed twice since I went through chemo. Now need for distances also. During chemo my eyes watered so bad and they said it was the chemo. When I finished chemo I went to eye Dr. who sent me to a specialist. My tear ducts were closed. They were able to open in the office (not real pleasant). Now two years later I am scheduled for eye surgery nex Thursday. My tear ducts are completely shut and they can not open them in the office. Drs. blame on chemo. Depending on what testing shows, may have to have more extensive surgery on nose. Something about the tube that runs from eyes to nose.

Unfortunately since chemo I have had to have some kind of surgery once a year for something related to chemo. Thank the good Lord, it has not been cancer. Hope after this eye surgery I will be done.

FlSunshine said:

Mouth and Eye Problem
I have been a member for several years, but have not really posted until just recently. Wish I had sooner.

I had terrible problems with my gums during chemo. To this day I have my teeth cleaned every 4 months so that my gums do not get any worse. Oncologist told me not to go to the dentist while I was having chemo done.

As for the eyes. My eys definitely got worse during chemo. I wore glases prior to chemo for reading and have had them changed twice since I went through chemo. Now need for distances also. During chemo my eyes watered so bad and they said it was the chemo. When I finished chemo I went to eye Dr. who sent me to a specialist. My tear ducts were closed. They were able to open in the office (not real pleasant). Now two years later I am scheduled for eye surgery nex Thursday. My tear ducts are completely shut and they can not open them in the office. Drs. blame on chemo. Depending on what testing shows, may have to have more extensive surgery on nose. Something about the tube that runs from eyes to nose.

Unfortunately since chemo I have had to have some kind of surgery once a year for something related to chemo. Thank the good Lord, it has not been cancer. Hope after this eye surgery I will be done.

tear duct issues
I had the same problem, and I THINK it was from the Leucovorin (or the 5FU). I was lucky, I didn't have to have any surgery done. I had asked around about it and when I heard about the "roto-rootering" procedure, I figured I would just wait and see how it went! Mine completely cleared up at some point after chemo ended. Mine didn't completely close, just narrowed. It's always one thing or another, huh?!!!! Congrats on the no cancer and prayers for many years more! Mary

Vision
I had cataracts just about ready for surgery before I got slammed
with the ca news and chemo treatments. Saw my opthalmologist just
recently and he says that the cataract surgery can still be done
when it is needed which was good news. Also I read where some
chemo can also cause cataracts. The surgery is an 8 min procedure
and drops for two weeks afterwards.....an improvement on the old
cataract surgery.

FlSunshine said:

Tear Duct
Mary, saw the onc today and he said he was not aware of chemo causing tear duct issue. However, the specialist said it was the chemo. My eyes are so bad in the morning for about 3 to 4 hours, it is hard to keep eye make up on. Not sure about the roto-rootering, but they are putting in tubes which hopefully once tear ducts are open they can remove in 6-9 months. Dr. said their was no cutting with this procedure. They just try to insert three times and if they can't get them in, they wake me up and we discuss other options. Unfortunately instead of getting better after chemo stopped, mine got worse. Glad to know I was not alone. Take care. Christie

Tear duct issues continued!
Christie, mine weren't better or worse any particular time of day, but boy get me in a place with air conditioning(like a restaurant!) and my eyes ran like mad! I looked like I was crying and at one of my favorite restaurants, a local Bob Evans, my waitress asked if I was ok! At times it was good for a little bit of added sympathy . Mary

FlSunshine said:

Tear Duct Surgery
Well I had my surgery Thusday and it was no fun. Still don't feel all of that well. It was only successful on my right eye. They tried three times to insert the tube and they will only try three times. The third time worked on right eye. They also tried three times on left eye and it was not successful. I look like someone took their fists and just pounded by face. Very swollen and bruised. Have to wear these "beautiful" solor shades for a month around the house, to work, even to watch t.v. Can't get light into eyes. Can't get eyes wet for one month (kind of hard when trying to wash hair) but I managed. Dr. gave me an antibiotic drop which I was allergic to so now I have to be really careful. Dr. will make a decision in 4 months as to what to do with other eye. He said I had very bad scar tissue from the chemo.

Hope no one else has to go through this.

Christie

Tear duct surgery
Christie, I am so sorry to hear your surgery was so difficult! I will pray for your quick recovery and am sure you will be glad once all the healing is done. This beast just really sucks and it's hard to believe sometimes the wide range of insults we have to endure sometimes. Let us know how it goes, ok? Mary