Folfox and mouth sores?

sfan428
sfan428 Member Posts: 32 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hello all, quick question that I am hoping you might be able to help with. I did my first of 6 rounds of Folfox last Mon/Tues and tolerated it quite well. However, beginning this past weekend, I got a couple of sores in my mouth. The worst of which is on the tip of my tongue. I have been using Biotene a couple of times a day and rinsing with water while I'm at work but nothing seems to help. Just wondering if anyone had anything else they might recommend that has worked. I will admit However, that with Halloween over the weekend I did dip into my sons candy stash a few too many times and this is likely the root cause of the sores. Appreciate any advice you might have.

Thanks
Shane

Comments

  • Patteee
    Patteee Member Posts: 945
    #2
    I would rinse with warm
    I would rinse with warm water, salt and baking soda (probably like 1/4 teaspoon of both), many times a day- do it throughout chemo, just not when you get a sore. I would also ask for miracle mouthwash from your oncologist.
  • pepebcn
    pepebcn Member Posts: 6,331 Member
    #3
    Patteee said:

    I would rinse with warm
    I would rinse with warm water, salt and baking soda (probably like 1/4 teaspoon of both), many times a day- do it throughout chemo, just not when you get a sore. I would also ask for miracle mouthwash from your oncologist.

    warm water, salt and bicarbonate,
    is what recommend me at the hospital.
    Hugs!
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #4
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • abrub
    abrub Member Posts: 2,174 Member
    #5
    Agree with Pattee
    I kept a jar of equal parts baking soda and salt by my bathroom sink. Every time I went in, I'd mix a small spoonful (baby spoon - fits in the jar) into a small cup of warm water and rinse my mouth, often 4+ times a day daily, both while on chemo, and during my off days as well. I only had a few minor mouth sores.

    Good luck - it's a bear.
  • ritaclough
    ritaclough Member Posts: 44
    #6
    L Glutamine powder
    I just got a ton of mouth sores myself Saturday night. I rubbed L Glutamine powder all over them last night before bed and this morning they were better. I will be rubbing more on throughout the days wow..its amazing! My Naturopathic Dr. told me to do that. I also take it mixed with some yogurt or something else to help my heart,liver and intestinal tract for 5 days after chemo.
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    #7
    ritaclough said:

    L Glutamine powder
    I just got a ton of mouth sores myself Saturday night. I rubbed L Glutamine powder all over them last night before bed and this morning they were better. I will be rubbing more on throughout the days wow..its amazing! My Naturopathic Dr. told me to do that. I also take it mixed with some yogurt or something else to help my heart,liver and intestinal tract for 5 days after chemo.

    yes- L Glutamine!
    Rita beat me to it- I was also going to recommend L-Glutamine powder. Make sure you get it in powder form- not tablets or capsules. You just get your finger wet with water, then dip it in to get the powder on it and dab it on any sore areas in your mouth. Remember not to dip your finger back in the powder without first rinsing it off with water- so you don't contaminate the powder in the container with bacteria.
    My oncology nurse recommended it to me about a year ago & I was amazed and pleased at how well it works. It works best when you start it right away at the first sign of a sore in the mouth (or nose- I sometimes get sores inside the nose from chemo- not easy to rub the powder there, but I do it and it helps. I make sure to not do it when I'm going out in public- don't want to look like I've been snorting some kind of drug, lol!)
    I'd still continue also using the Biotene mouthwash and Biotene toothpaste & avoid eating or drinking anything too acidic (coffee, orange juice, spicy foods, etc.)

    Good luck with it!
    Lisa
  • Kathryn_in_MN
    Kathryn_in_MN Member Posts: 1,252 Member
    #8
    lisa42 said:

    yes- L Glutamine!
    Rita beat me to it- I was also going to recommend L-Glutamine powder. Make sure you get it in powder form- not tablets or capsules. You just get your finger wet with water, then dip it in to get the powder on it and dab it on any sore areas in your mouth. Remember not to dip your finger back in the powder without first rinsing it off with water- so you don't contaminate the powder in the container with bacteria.
    My oncology nurse recommended it to me about a year ago & I was amazed and pleased at how well it works. It works best when you start it right away at the first sign of a sore in the mouth (or nose- I sometimes get sores inside the nose from chemo- not easy to rub the powder there, but I do it and it helps. I make sure to not do it when I'm going out in public- don't want to look like I've been snorting some kind of drug, lol!)
    I'd still continue also using the Biotene mouthwash and Biotene toothpaste & avoid eating or drinking anything too acidic (coffee, orange juice, spicy foods, etc.)

    Good luck with it!
    Lisa

    Interesting
    I didn't run across this option last year on FOLFOX when my mouth sores were so awful. I'm having a little trouble on FOLFIRI - mostly sores on the sides of my tongue, which were the worst ones for me last time. I'm going to have to try this.

    Thanks Rita & Lisa

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