chemo-related ulcers "down below"?

taraHK
taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I know it is relatively common to have mouth ulcers as a side-effect of chemo (ouch). Wondering if anyone has experience with ulcers in the genital area, while on chemo? (Please excuse the sensitive topic). I have a small ulcer near my vagina. My oncologist says he hasn't encountered this before. To me, it makes sense -- mucosa is mucusa - -similar tissues. Now they want to test me for herpes - !! Fine fine -- they are just doing their job -- good to rule things out. Apparently, in theory, it is possible for herpes to flare up while on chemo -- because of immunosuppression -- even if you have never been diagnosed, never knew you had it, never symptomatic. (Wouldn't that be the pits).

I had this same thing about 3 years ago, also when i was on chemo. (Herpes test was negative, it cleared up relatively quickly with a prescription cream).

I'd like to hear if others have experienced this. Not that I want to prove my doctors wrong or anything ha ha

Thanks in advance,

Tara

Comments

  • pepebcn
    pepebcn Member Posts: 6,331 Member
    #2
    No idea Tara
    Sorry not can help you on that!
  • Smethport
    Smethport Member Posts: 15
    #3
    Chemo-related ulcer "down there"
    Tara, sorry you are experiencing this, but glad you brought it up. I just finished my first cycle of Xeloda, and experienced this also. I have a kidney stone that is soon going to be lasered, and thought it was that I was passing some small stones, but perhaps it is from the Xeloda. Did you have burning on urination? My feet and hands seem fine, except for being a little hot. What meds did they give you? Hope you feel better soon - me too.
  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    #4
    Smethport said:

    Chemo-related ulcer "down there"
    Tara, sorry you are experiencing this, but glad you brought it up. I just finished my first cycle of Xeloda, and experienced this also. I have a kidney stone that is soon going to be lasered, and thought it was that I was passing some small stones, but perhaps it is from the Xeloda. Did you have burning on urination? My feet and hands seem fine, except for being a little hot. What meds did they give you? Hope you feel better soon - me too.

    thanks
    I'm sorry to hear you are experiencing something similar -- although it is useful for me to know that someone else is. No, I am not experiencing any pain with urination (and SO sorry you are!!) - my ulcer is lower down....Are you sure you don't have a urinary tract infection? But I guess the burning could be from the ulcer -- mine is very ouchy.

    I'm on Xeloda too (plus CPT-11 and Avastin). I'm on my 5th cycle.

    The medicine they gave me for the ulcer was an antibacteria rinse, an antifungal cream, and an antiviral cream (sorry I don't have the names to hand). I guess they are trying to cover their bases.

    Once cream has to be applied 4 times a day and the other 2 times a day and they can't be applied at the same time -- so I am spending an awful lot of time applying creams!

    I hope you get pain relief soon. Glad to hear your hands and feet are fine so far. I'm having some problems with mine (dry, cracking, bit of blistering) but so far not too bad. Memory foam slippers help me!

    Best,
    Tara
  • Smethport
    Smethport Member Posts: 15
    #5
    taraHK said:

    thanks
    I'm sorry to hear you are experiencing something similar -- although it is useful for me to know that someone else is. No, I am not experiencing any pain with urination (and SO sorry you are!!) - my ulcer is lower down....Are you sure you don't have a urinary tract infection? But I guess the burning could be from the ulcer -- mine is very ouchy.

    I'm on Xeloda too (plus CPT-11 and Avastin). I'm on my 5th cycle.

    The medicine they gave me for the ulcer was an antibacteria rinse, an antifungal cream, and an antiviral cream (sorry I don't have the names to hand). I guess they are trying to cover their bases.

    Once cream has to be applied 4 times a day and the other 2 times a day and they can't be applied at the same time -- so I am spending an awful lot of time applying creams!

    I hope you get pain relief soon. Glad to hear your hands and feet are fine so far. I'm having some problems with mine (dry, cracking, bit of blistering) but so far not too bad. Memory foam slippers help me!

    Best,
    Tara

    Chemo-related ulcer "down there"
    Well Tara, it seems that we are the only two people on board who have this problem. Hope you are feeling better. This is my off week with Xeloda and am feeling better, will see next week when on it again if the problem comes back. Take care,
  • 462lt
    462lt Member Posts: 117
    #6
    Smethport said:

    Chemo-related ulcer "down there"
    Well Tara, it seems that we are the only two people on board who have this problem. Hope you are feeling better. This is my off week with Xeloda and am feeling better, will see next week when on it again if the problem comes back. Take care,

    Had it too
    Yes one of the few symptoms I had from chemo was vaginal sore. It has taken awhile to heal. Laura
  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    #7
    I'm not a doctor,

    I'm not a doctor,

    But I'd be happy to take a look at it for you.



    (just sayin'...)


    John
  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    #8
    Smethport said:

    Chemo-related ulcer "down there"
    Well Tara, it seems that we are the only two people on board who have this problem. Hope you are feeling better. This is my off week with Xeloda and am feeling better, will see next week when on it again if the problem comes back. Take care,

    good luck!
    Good luck and please keep me posted

    tara
  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    #9
    462lt said:

    Had it too
    Yes one of the few symptoms I had from chemo was vaginal sore. It has taken awhile to heal. Laura

    thanks
    Thansk for letting me know. Mine appears to be healing now too. And my onc doesn't think it's herpes (thank god -- that would have been the final straw!)
  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    #10
    John23 said:

    I'm not a doctor,

    I'm not a doctor,

    But I'd be happy to take a look at it for you.



    (just sayin'...)


    John

    Dr John
    Oh, John -- your selflessness knows no bounds -- the sacrifices you are willing to make! :)
  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    #11
    taraHK said:

    Dr John
    Oh, John -- your selflessness knows no bounds -- the sacrifices you are willing to make! :)

    Hey Tara....


    Hey, no problamo'. Happy to do it!

    It's like: "One small step for man; one giant leap for mankind".






    (get better, willya'?)


    John

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