Radiation Burns on Tongue

w6nnh
w6nnh Member Posts: 14
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
I was diagnosed with cancer on my tongue the first of May this year. I went in to have the cancer removed on the 10th of May. They removed the left half of my tongue. They created a flap using skin from my leg. I spent two weeks in the hospital. I recovered for about a month and started Radiation Therapy. The first 5 or so treatments I did not notice much. Then my throat started to have pain swallowing. My Dr. gave me Miles Solution. It worked for a short time. Then my taste started to go. Almost everything taste salty. Thank god for Boost and Ensure. But the worst is the Blisters in my mouth from the Radiation. I am gargling with Baking Soda/Salt solution about every 2 to 3 hours and taking Loratab.
Does anyone have any suggestion on dealing with the blisters.

Comments

  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #2
    Welcome
    To our little part of the internet....

    Sorry for your ordeal, there are actually a few here that have went through very similar treatment as yoursel...you are not alone.

    Unfortunately I can't off any recommendation to get you through other than what you are currently doing...

    I used baking soda and hydrogen peroxide....

    Ginger Ale might help some if it doesn't further irritate the blisters and burning.

    Unfortunately time will be the best healer....

    I'm over three years post TX now, and have regained all taste and maybe 95% on the saliva.

    So I can offer that it will get better more than likely. I also was like you...well, minus the bliasters, but pretty raw.

    Everything tasted bad, or water tasted like sweat....and totally no saliva.

    It's a very slow process.


    Others will chime in their expereinces soon.

    Best,
    John
  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #3
    Ask you Onc for MuGard and L-Glutamine....
    L-Glutamine will heal the sores you have, and MuGard will prevent them from coming, once they are gone. I used the L-Glutamine on the one sore I had, then started using the MuGard, and never had another sore in my mouth. There's a number of us on here who had really good luck with MuGard.

    p
  • ratface
    ratface Member Posts: 1,337 Member
    #4
    phrannie51 said:

    Ask you Onc for MuGard and L-Glutamine....
    L-Glutamine will heal the sores you have, and MuGard will prevent them from coming, once they are gone. I used the L-Glutamine on the one sore I had, then started using the MuGard, and never had another sore in my mouth. There's a number of us on here who had really good luck with MuGard.

    p

    iodine
    works pretty well. Mix some up to the color of dark tea in a water bottle, about a tablespoon or so. Shake it up, sip, swirl, gargle, and spit back out. BTW, I went through the , everything I eat taste like salt, cycle. it goes away.
  • nick770
    nick770 Member Posts: 195
    #5
    phrannie51 said:

    Ask you Onc for MuGard and L-Glutamine....
    L-Glutamine will heal the sores you have, and MuGard will prevent them from coming, once they are gone. I used the L-Glutamine on the one sore I had, then started using the MuGard, and never had another sore in my mouth. There's a number of us on here who had really good luck with MuGard.

    p

    How did you treat them? Did
    How did you treat them? Did you use a paste or just took the pills ?
  • w6nnh
    w6nnh Member Posts: 14
    #6
    phrannie51 said:

    Ask you Onc for MuGard and L-Glutamine....
    L-Glutamine will heal the sores you have, and MuGard will prevent them from coming, once they are gone. I used the L-Glutamine on the one sore I had, then started using the MuGard, and never had another sore in my mouth. There's a number of us on here who had really good luck with MuGard.

    p

    L-Glutamine and MuGard
    How did you take the L-Glutamine? and as for the MuGard, my Doctor has does not know about it. I also asked the pharm at Walgreens and they also do not know about it.
    Where do you get it.
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #7
    w6nnh said:

    L-Glutamine and MuGard
    How did you take the L-Glutamine? and as for the MuGard, my Doctor has does not know about it. I also asked the pharm at Walgreens and they also do not know about it.
    Where do you get it.

    MuGard
    MuGard
  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #8
    w6nnh said:

    L-Glutamine and MuGard
    How did you take the L-Glutamine? and as for the MuGard, my Doctor has does not know about it. I also asked the pharm at Walgreens and they also do not know about it.
    Where do you get it.

    L-Glutamine, I just put a couple teaspons in a small glass
    of water, swished, swirled and swallowed....the MuGard comes with a little cup...you swish and swirl with that also...I also swallowed it. It stings at first, then you have blessed numbness...and some pretend spit for a while.

    p
  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    #9
    Sounds like you got hit
    Sounds like you got hit early on with the sores, like I did. Mine were all on my lips which swelled up and virtually turned inside out. I kept Aquaphor available at Walgreens on them. Radiologist said gargle with baking soda/salt but that put me in orbit with pain. I had not heard of MuGard but certainly would have tried it. Throughout tx I said they could put a man on the moon but couldn't come up with something to prevent or help the sores. If it is any consolation, when rads finished sores were the first to improve and were gone in 2 weeks. I feel for you and hope you find a solution.
  • Sam999
    Sam999 Member Posts: 319 Member
    #10
    hwt said:

    Sounds like you got hit
    Sounds like you got hit early on with the sores, like I did. Mine were all on my lips which swelled up and virtually turned inside out. I kept Aquaphor available at Walgreens on them. Radiologist said gargle with baking soda/salt but that put me in orbit with pain. I had not heard of MuGard but certainly would have tried it. Throughout tx I said they could put a man on the moon but couldn't come up with something to prevent or help the sores. If it is any consolation, when rads finished sores were the first to improve and were gone in 2 weeks. I feel for you and hope you find a solution.

    I vote for mugard as well.
    I vote for mugard as well. My doc did not approve it at first but than was okay with it. Details are in thread http://csn.cancer.org/node/240016

    Let us know if you need additional help.

    You could use caphahsol and mugrad both. I did that towards the end.

    Sam

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