help! mouth sores - really bad

jeancmici
jeancmici Member Posts: 665 Member
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hello to All,

Each time I had the A/C treatment, I had a few 'canker sores' but nothing I couldn't stand.

Day 10 of # 4 treatment, I got so many on the side of my tongue that I have to force myself to even drink anything - chewing is out of the question because my tongue touches my teeth and it's unbearable. Day 12 - today- I have more sores all over my mouth, but the original remain the worst.

I got a mouthwash from the pharmacy with benadryl, maalox and lidocaine which numbs my mouth but the pain remains.

Used warm salt water and Sucrets. Maybe I just want to hear some other people's stories - like misery loves company!! LOL! I know it will eventually get better, if only I can hold out 'til then.

Best Wishes to everyone and thanks.
This seems so trivial but hurts so much!

Jean

Comments

  • nancys
    nancys Member Posts: 323
    #2
    Jean, I am so sorry to hear you are in such pain with mouth sores. I was lucky not to have them and I too, rinsed with warm salt water several times a day, just in case. Once when I had a sore on the side of my mouth (I think I bit it in my sleep) my onco nurse gave me something called, ulcer ease, to swish around in my mouth. I hope you have called your Oncologist about these sores. There may be something better than the mouthwash you are using. And this is not trivial at all. Wish I could be more help to you. Love to you, Nancy
  • nkac
    nkac Member Posts: 17
    #3
    nancys said:

    Jean, I am so sorry to hear you are in such pain with mouth sores. I was lucky not to have them and I too, rinsed with warm salt water several times a day, just in case. Once when I had a sore on the side of my mouth (I think I bit it in my sleep) my onco nurse gave me something called, ulcer ease, to swish around in my mouth. I hope you have called your Oncologist about these sores. There may be something better than the mouthwash you are using. And this is not trivial at all. Wish I could be more help to you. Love to you, Nancy

    Hi Jean, I only had 1 mouth sore. My Dr. gave me something called "swish and swallow" it may be the same thing you are taking now. If not, you might ask your Dr. about it. It taste really nasty, but it worked for me. Hope you get rid of those soars soon. Best of luck to you, Nelda
  • jeancmici
    jeancmici Member Posts: 665 Member
    #4
    nancys said:

    Jean, I am so sorry to hear you are in such pain with mouth sores. I was lucky not to have them and I too, rinsed with warm salt water several times a day, just in case. Once when I had a sore on the side of my mouth (I think I bit it in my sleep) my onco nurse gave me something called, ulcer ease, to swish around in my mouth. I hope you have called your Oncologist about these sores. There may be something better than the mouthwash you are using. And this is not trivial at all. Wish I could be more help to you. Love to you, Nancy

    Hi Nancy,

    I got the mouthwash from the nurse practitioner who works with the onco. I never see him!

    The pain has eased a very little bit after two extra-strength tylenol.

    I didn't like to read of Tracy's reaction to taxol. I had a systemic pain from the cortisone last time - everywhere it hurt as I showered - lasted a few days. Hope your radiation is going well. I suppose you are gardening - nice here last few days - 70's.

    Thanks for your sympathy!! :-)
    Jean
  • jeancmici
    jeancmici Member Posts: 665 Member
    #5
    nkac said:

    Hi Jean, I only had 1 mouth sore. My Dr. gave me something called "swish and swallow" it may be the same thing you are taking now. If not, you might ask your Dr. about it. It taste really nasty, but it worked for me. Hope you get rid of those soars soon. Best of luck to you, Nelda

    Thanks, Nelda, for your message. I have always had a few mouth sores with each treatment, but didn't mind them. This time I have four that are the worst and - really- about 10 more. I feel like Job tonight!!

    The nurse told me today that I probably wouldn't get sores with the taxol - well, I'll find out next week - afraid I'll still have these!

    Thanks again, Jean
  • confused
    confused Member Posts: 51
    #6
    Hello Jean,
    I do a lot of reading and research here for my mom ( who has BC for 2nd time in 6yrs.) She's having chemo this time, and was worried about getting the mouth sores , since her onco said it was a good possibility ,and she wears dentures. Some one on here , actually a few people , said they tried eating or sucking on ice chips or that italian ice during the treatments,and it prevented the sores. something to do with the blood vessels constricting if i'm not mistaken. My moms going to try it .
    I hope it helps!
    Better days are coming! God Bless,
    Diane
  • jeancmici
    jeancmici Member Posts: 665 Member
    #7
    confused said:

    Hello Jean,
    I do a lot of reading and research here for my mom ( who has BC for 2nd time in 6yrs.) She's having chemo this time, and was worried about getting the mouth sores , since her onco said it was a good possibility ,and she wears dentures. Some one on here , actually a few people , said they tried eating or sucking on ice chips or that italian ice during the treatments,and it prevented the sores. something to do with the blood vessels constricting if i'm not mistaken. My moms going to try it .
    I hope it helps!
    Better days are coming! God Bless,
    Diane

    Thanks,Diane, for your kind response. Also, good luck to your dear mother - BC again in 6 years - heavy stuff. My thoughts are with her.

    Jean
  • confused
    confused Member Posts: 51
    #8
    jeancmici said:

    Thanks,Diane, for your kind response. Also, good luck to your dear mother - BC again in 6 years - heavy stuff. My thoughts are with her.

    Jean

    Hi Jean,
    I also meant to say that there is an oral condition(?) called Stomatitis, I'm not sure what causes it, but a friend of mine and her son had it,(although her husband didn't) very painful sores in the mouth. It seems like I read a very brief paragraph about it in one of my mothers chemo booklets.
    My absolute best advice to you is to maybe call your dentist's office , and see what medicine they recommend for it. Then get that ok'd by your other drs.
    I know my freind saw her dentist for her treatment.
    Thank you too for your kind words. I truely hope you find some relief!
    Diane
  • lindysu
    lindysu Member Posts: 59
    #9
    confused said:

    Hello Jean,
    I do a lot of reading and research here for my mom ( who has BC for 2nd time in 6yrs.) She's having chemo this time, and was worried about getting the mouth sores , since her onco said it was a good possibility ,and she wears dentures. Some one on here , actually a few people , said they tried eating or sucking on ice chips or that italian ice during the treatments,and it prevented the sores. something to do with the blood vessels constricting if i'm not mistaken. My moms going to try it .
    I hope it helps!
    Better days are coming! God Bless,
    Diane

    hi diane, with my first AC, I sucked on ice for about 5 min, but I still got got mouth sores really bad that went all down my throat, my doctor said it was a yeast infection, and gave me diflucan which cleared them right up....the next time I took a quart of ice cream and slowly ate it all during the doxorubin[adriamycin]..thats the one that causes the sores.....so I kept my mouth very cold thru-out the whole infusion...this seemed to work for me...I never got sores again...and repeated the process each time....ice cream was alot easier to keep in my mouth for 20 min than ice. more pleasant too, my favorite was pinapple coconut!...lindy
  • 24242
    24242 Member Posts: 1,398 Member
    #10
    Hello Jean,
    Don't say it is trivial when this is what it is. I had plenty of soars but never could find anything for it. Would be interested to hear of some hints too. I just hope that you are able to get the nutritian you need to battle on. I spent 2 years drinking allot of ensure and boost because of mouth problems. I think this is the worst part of this fight is eating......... it is a tough thing to do when not feeling well,
    Hang in there you are doing great.
    Be good to yourself first,
    24242Tara
  • jeancmici
    jeancmici Member Posts: 665 Member
    #11
    24242 said:

    Hello Jean,
    Don't say it is trivial when this is what it is. I had plenty of soars but never could find anything for it. Would be interested to hear of some hints too. I just hope that you are able to get the nutritian you need to battle on. I spent 2 years drinking allot of ensure and boost because of mouth problems. I think this is the worst part of this fight is eating......... it is a tough thing to do when not feeling well,
    Hang in there you are doing great.
    Be good to yourself first,
    24242Tara

    Hi TARA,
    Thanks for the encouragement. I can barely stand even to drink anything. I can stand a lot of pain but this has me licked. I decided today that I anm not going to do the four taxol.

    If they continue to urge me to continue, I'll do the taxotere if possible. Read the clinical trial on the web today and the reason they are testing taxol/taxotere is that it seems that taxotere is better for metastatic cancer which is what they use in the states. So really I think I have only the choice of taxol or nothing.

    Now I just want to get through THIS episode.

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Jean
  • confused
    confused Member Posts: 51
    #12
    lindysu said:

    hi diane, with my first AC, I sucked on ice for about 5 min, but I still got got mouth sores really bad that went all down my throat, my doctor said it was a yeast infection, and gave me diflucan which cleared them right up....the next time I took a quart of ice cream and slowly ate it all during the doxorubin[adriamycin]..thats the one that causes the sores.....so I kept my mouth very cold thru-out the whole infusion...this seemed to work for me...I never got sores again...and repeated the process each time....ice cream was alot easier to keep in my mouth for 20 min than ice. more pleasant too, my favorite was pinapple coconut!...lindy

    Hi Lindy,
    Thanks for the information! I will pas it on to my mom.......ice cream is MUCH yummier than ice!
    Diane

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