Random canker sores 6 months after tx

fishmanpa said:

Cold Sores

Hi C, (the person not the drink)

Canker/cold sores or HSV type 1 is very common regardless of a Dx of cancer. It's estimated that close to 90% of the population has been exposed to the virus by adulthood. Many never experience symptoms or an outbreak. If you had outbreaks before Dx and treatment, you're bound to have an outbreak afterwards. Most outbreaks have a trigger of some kind. Stress, immune weaknesses, vitamin deficiencies and illnesses like a cold can often trigger an outbreak (the stress of treatment itself can cause an outbreak).

If that is indeed what's taking place, then you pretty much have to ride it out (most outbreaks clear up within two weeks) or have your doctor prescribe one of the anti-viral drugs can lessen the severity and duration of an outbreak. There are several over the counter remedies to lessen discomfort. 

Positive thoughts and prayers

"T"

You're right about how common they really are. I'm hoping they get controlled. The thought that they came on just before dx kind of startles one that it's the "opening to what is to come"....being viral and all. The whole HPV thing has so many questions brought upon it, that it does make one wonder.

I think I'm going to stick with the idea of the immune weakness at this time and hope that it becomes strengthened over time. I'd like to see him try some Vitamin B12 and iron and see if that helps. It seems so hard these days to make simple decisions about taking things we never thought twice about. Kreg is also taking meds for his heart (had a heart attack in 05 and triple bypass in 07 and now this cancer) that we never know about counteracting or even suppressing the immune system. He took himself off an anxiety drug because he felt he could do without it and he was concerned about his heart drugs interacting. He's got some talking to do with his Cardiologist this week when he sees him. 

Thanks for the advice and info. Hope you're doing well. Kreg's been out of tx now for 6 months and other than getting use to the new normal emotionally and physically(some minor aches) ....and now the canker sores, life is really getting better! 

~C  (Cool Drink  ) 

Skiffin16 said:

Abreva

I get a cold sore/fever blister occasionally.... The thing that I attribute it to the most (as for a trigger) for me, is the sun.

If I get too much sun on my lips from not keeping covered well, and get sun burned... I'll get a sore with in a few days.

For me I can actualy feel it a day or so before it pops up.

For years I used Camphor or Campho-Phenique... While it would take 3-4 days or more for the sore to pop up and go away with the Camphor, as opposed to a week or more untreated.

The best thing ever I have found is Abreva.., it's pricey nearly $15 for a very small tube..., but it works.

When I first feel a sore coming on, I can use a little Abreva, and usually the sore won't even pop up...or if it does it doesn't blister up.

I'm so in-tuned these days, I rarely even get one.

JG

 

 

So we thought we were dealing with canker sores in the mouth and today he now ends up with a cold sore on the outside of his lip! John, now that you mention the sun....he was out golfing all day and then ended up with this....going to check into the Abreva! Forgot about that stuff. 

Poor guy....he's beginning to dislike his mouth...lol

vermontgirl said:

Rads...ugh

My hubby is also 6 months out.  He has gotten canker sores on his tonsil...very painful. He never got them prior to this.  I talked to onc MD about it.....he said it is REALLY common side effect from rads as the tissues are tender and still healing.  Any food that scrapes by will lead possibly to a canker sore.  And my hubby finds that food does seem to collect or scrape by there.  he has to swish to clear.  So onc MD said, as long as they act like canker sores....appear, get painful and heal....it is to be expected.  But if the sores change for the worse air seem to stick around longer than they should to come in and have him take a look.

 

I hope this helps...rads!!!!

Vermontgirl....Thank you for sharing the experience with us. Glad we're not alone with this stuff. Canker sores seem so common and we normally would not think much of them. But, after the mouth cancer journey who knows what's normal. He's been swishing constantly with baking soda/salt water and this seems to be helping. Again, thank you for sharing. Hope all is well...

~C

fishmanpa said:

Gotta have heart....

Hi C,

I didn't know Kreg has heart issues. So do I (heart attack/triple bypass Nov. '07, heart attack/cardiac stents Oct. '12). Because of my heart issues, they went with 30 rads and 6 weekly Cisplatin infusins (200mg I believe) as opposed to the cocktail that many have had. My team told me they would have gone that route had I not had heart issues. The fact that they removed the canerous lymph nodes lessened the number of treatments as well. What was Kreg's Tx?

There are times I look at what I've been through and while I got beat up pretty good, it pales in comparison to some I read about. In the big picture I'm quite blessed.It's funny how cancer humbles you and you still are humbled by the experiences of your fellow warriors. 

"T"

Hi "T",

Sounds similiar with the heart except Kreg had heart attack/stents '05, and then '07 was triple bypass. Kreg was treated at U of Michigan and they would not begin tx until he was cleared by his cardiologist. He had to go through a stress test and some various blood tests, and then he gave him the go. From there he started his treatment (also under the care of the cardiologist there too) of 35 weeks of rads (daily)/chemo(once weekly). His chemo was Carboplatin and Placlitaxel and didn't have any surgery. They said the lymph nodes (2) were too close to a carotid artery and they wouldn't do surgery. Also the tongue was not getting surgery either due to the depth of the cancer in it. 

Kreg was pretty scared upon dx as he was afraid his heart couldn't take it.....but, he was stronger than we thought. He's told me over and over he feels the trauma he went through with his heart led him to this cancer....I'm not so sure I believe that. It's funny now how he doesn't seem to worry as much about the heart issues now that he had a round with this beast. I think you BOTH are very strong individuals to withstand all this trauma....but, you really didn't have a choice did you?! He just saw his cardiologist last week and said everything was good with blood work and his stress test....I pray it remains this way. He's lost 50 lbs which is less on the heart and although it's a hard way to lose weight, it will certainly help the heart in that manner.

Glad everything went well with you too. Makes you look at life in a whole different manner when faced with the possiblity of death at least three times!

~C