Raw mouth years after Rads?

meaganb
meaganb Member Posts: 244 Member
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Hey all! I don't post much here anymore but do try to check in every once in a while. I am 3 years out from diagnosis of ACC, I finished radiation in June of 2012. Overall I am doing well, I now have 3 kids (2 born after cancer treatment) & my scans so far have been clean although I am a bit overdo on those due to my last pregnancy. In the last few weeks my mouth has become ultra sensitive. I have been pretty lucky, after the initial healing period after Rads I was able to eat almost anything. Now anything acidic tears my mouth up, so tomatoes, fruit juice, oranges, coffee, chocolate, etc sting. Its even hard to brush all of a sudden, my mouth burns from the toothpaste that didn't bother me a few weeks ago. I have an appt with both my ENT & Onc next week so I'll ask them of course, but was curious if anyone has experienced a revival of symptoms from Rads after years of normalcy? Thanks for any input guys! 

Comments

  • cureitall66
    cureitall66 Member Posts: 913
    #2
    Congrats!

    Hi Meagan,

    First, congratulations on your three years and your three babies! 

    My loved one is 2 yrs cancer free from Base of Tongue Carcinoma cancer and has on occassion fought canker sores after tx. He does say that certain foods that he once ate do cause some irritability and he tries to stay away or eat less of it. He also will have occassional nose bleeds or if he happens to cough hard have a little red in his phlegm. He has had regular check ups and the doctors haven't seen anything and have not been too concerned. That tissue is over sensitive and very thin from radiation, so it is bound to become irritated from time to time. 

    I have not had cancer myself, but do deal with laryngopharayngeal reflux (causes backup of stomach acid into the throat and larynx). I was dx shortly after my loved one was dx with cancer. My mouth just suddenly became oversensitive and everthing burned in my mouth. I had to learn to eat differently and avoid many foods I dearly loved. I am now on high dosages of ranitidine (zantac) to help keep it under control. 

    I don't know if either of these issues will be of use to you or not, just thought I would share. Hope you get it taken care of soon....the mouth issues can be so distracting. 

    Glad life is going well for you. 

    Take care,

    Cureitall

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #3
    Hi Meagan!!

    Wow....another babe!! I think the last time you were here, you'd just had your second. 

    I wonder if you don't have a touch of thrush?  I've had it a couple times in the last year or so....I always know because foods start stinging....Foods that a week prior did not. 

    It's so nice to hear from you.....and I'm thrilled about your little family.....that is wonderful!

    p

  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    #4
    first, congratulations!!! 

    first, congratulations!!!  how exciting and talk about getting back to living! you've certainly done that.

    i am 5 yrs post rads and my mouth has really started hurting in the past 3-4 months.  my tongue hurts, my gums and my lips where they touch my teeth.  i currently have a spot in my mouth that has been there since 3/4/15.  in fact i'm calling the dentist today as he told me to.  i don't know why my mouth hurts so much now as it never has before.  my teeth are also going bad.  i've had to have one pulled and two repaired as one even chiped.  i hope you find an answer to your pain and it is something simple to fix.  when you find the solution, please share for those of else who are also going through it.  i will do the same.

    God bless you,

    dj

  • meaganb
    meaganb Member Posts: 244 Member
    #5
    phrannie51 said:

    Hi Meagan!!

    Wow....another babe!! I think the last time you were here, you'd just had your second. 

    I wonder if you don't have a touch of thrush?  I've had it a couple times in the last year or so....I always know because foods start stinging....Foods that a week prior did not. 

    It's so nice to hear from you.....and I'm thrilled about your little family.....that is wonderful!

    p

    Phrannie! #2 & #3 are only 15

    Phrannie! #2 & #3 are only 15 months a part. Not our plan, but I'm not mad about it!;) I never even considered thrush. I still have pretty wicked dry mouth, esp at night so I think this could be the issue. Now I just have to get through the weekend until I can see the ENT! 

     

    Thanks for the congrats & suggestions everyone!

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