Does anyone have a good remedy for mouth sores during chemo?

pinkpalette
pinkpalette Member Posts: 112
in Breast Cancer #1
I am getting ready for my second cycle of chemo and one of the biggest annoyances for me were those pesky mouth sores. I drank almost a gallon of water during the entire first infusion. I drank plenty more over the next weeks. That didn't work. I tried lemon drops and they tasted so nasty, I threw the whole bag out. I've got the Biotene mouthwash and toothpaste and it is indeed soothing, but those mouth sores still hung on. They are barely cleared up and now I'm starting all over, and I dread they'll get any worse. Any advise or remedy would indeed be helpful to me.

Hugs to all,
Debbie

Comments

  • Chickadee1955
    Chickadee1955 Member Posts: 356 Member
    #2
    Wish I could help, Debbie,
    Wish I could help, Debbie, but Biotene and oceans of water helped me. I'm sure someone will have some additional suggestions.

    Chickadee
  • MAJW
    MAJW Member Posts: 2,510 Member
    #3
    Chickadee1955 said:

    Wish I could help, Debbie,
    Wish I could help, Debbie, but Biotene and oceans of water helped me. I'm sure someone will have some additional suggestions.

    Chickadee

    Mouth sores...
    I was prescribed NYSTATIN.....kept in the frig, you swish it around in your mouth and spit it out....I used it from the very beginning, 4x a day...I never had the first mouth sore...it has a minor numbing effect...it seemed to help also when I lost my taste buds after each infusion, I would use it before I ate something.....also many use a baking soda/salt rinse 4x a day.....Personally the NYSTATIN worked wonders for me....you might get your physician to prescribe it.....no need to suffer when you don't have to!

    I hope things go easier for you this time...
    Hugs, Nancy
  • LoveBabyJesus
    LoveBabyJesus Member Posts: 1,679 Member
    #4
    Yes, and it worked for me
    Yes, and it worked for me for the entire chemo treatments. You chew on ice the entire time you're getting the infusion. Yes, you take ice chips and chew on them, non- stop. Then after infusion is done, you stop.

    Also, be sure to continue to use Biotene products after each meal and before bed time.

    There is also something that doctors can prescribe, if the above suggestions don't work. It's called: Maalox/Lidocaine/Diphenhydramine.

    I hope this helps.
  • mamolady
    mamolady Member Posts: 796 Member
    #5
    Jamba Juice
    Ice chips, Jamba Juice, fudgesicles. Anything frozen is suppose to help. The only problem is some people develop an aversion to anything related to chemo so try not to use your favorite frozen drink. (margaritas are probably not a good idea either)
    I got a 32 oz jamba juice and it lasted the entire infusion. I still like them too.

    Cindy
  • Heatherbelle
    Heatherbelle Member Posts: 1,226 Member
    #6
    Hi Debbie :) i used Biotene
    Hi Debbie :) i used Biotene before I even got any mouth sores & it worked great for me through my 4 rounds of andriamycin/cytoxan. But the taxotere was a whole different story. I had to get a prescription, and it's called "Mary's Magic Mouthwash", you have to keep it refrigerated, but it cleared those suckers right up & prevented any more from coming back. Ask your onc nurse about it :) good luck my friend.
    *hugs*
    heather
  • Mitzi333
    Mitzi333 Member Posts: 511 Member
    #7
    Heatherbelle said:

    Hi Debbie :) i used Biotene
    Hi Debbie :) i used Biotene before I even got any mouth sores & it worked great for me through my 4 rounds of andriamycin/cytoxan. But the taxotere was a whole different story. I had to get a prescription, and it's called "Mary's Magic Mouthwash", you have to keep it refrigerated, but it cleared those suckers right up & prevented any more from coming back. Ask your onc nurse about it :) good luck my friend.
    *hugs*
    heather

    Hi Debbie...
    My Onc's assistant recommended plain old baking soda and a dash or 2 or salt. It works wonders to keep the mouth sores away. Give it a try... It's inexpenise and it WORKS!!!

    Hugs~
    Mitzi ;0)
  • butterflylvr
    butterflylvr Member Posts: 944
    #8
    Mitzi333 said:

    Hi Debbie...
    My Onc's assistant recommended plain old baking soda and a dash or 2 or salt. It works wonders to keep the mouth sores away. Give it a try... It's inexpenise and it WORKS!!!

    Hugs~
    Mitzi ;0)

    I'm with Mitzi, the salt
    I'm with Mitzi, the salt water rinses kept mouth sores away for me...

    Good Luck Deb,
    Lorrie
  • skipper54
    skipper54 Member Posts: 936 Member
    #9
    butterflylvr said:

    I'm with Mitzi, the salt
    I'm with Mitzi, the salt water rinses kept mouth sores away for me...

    Good Luck Deb,
    Lorrie

    Special "gel" from the dentist
    helped me a lot. My onc also siad cold drinks or ice chips or frozen dessert (I used fruit chillers) as soon as I got home. Never mentioned stopping with infusion. Also baking soda rinse. I had no sores but I'm not sure if that's because I was so pro-active or just lucky.
  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    #10
    I eat cherry popsicles!

    I eat cherry popsicles!
  • mruczko
    mruczko Member Posts: 110
    #11
    Mouth Sores
    Debbie:
    Before I started chemo the oncologist's office gave me a series of instructions, one was how to mix a mouth rinse, consisting of water, baking soda and salt. Husband mixed it in a plastic jug, he can't quite remember the formula, but he thinks he put 1 tsp of salt and one tsp of baking powder into warm water. I rinsed my mouth several times a day, mouth felt very sore but I did not develop any actual sores. Wonder if ACS's website has the formula? It's harmless and it might help you.
    Hugs, Marlene
  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    #12
    Debbie, here is a good link
    Debbie, here is a good link about chemo and mouth sores from chemocare:

    Mouth Sores due to Chemotherapy

    http://www.chemocare.com/managing/mouth_sores_due_to_chemotherapy.asp
  • midnight10
    midnight10 Member Posts: 74
    #13
    NYSTATIN
    My oncologist prescribed nystatin right away when I had my first chemo and it worked great. I just used it when I started to get sores and it made them go away.
    Cindy
  • SueRelays
    SueRelays Member Posts: 485
    #14
    midnight10 said:

    NYSTATIN
    My oncologist prescribed nystatin right away when I had my first chemo and it worked great. I just used it when I started to get sores and it made them go away.
    Cindy

    Hi Debbie
    Chiming in with
    Hi Debbie

    Chiming in with pretty much the same, but my naturapathic oncologist said the reason ice chips, popsicles, etc work, is that your mouth is an area that chemo runs too, and by shrinking the vessels with cold water it doesn't penetrate them as easily. Also I just read in one of my books, that Vit E oil directly on the mouth sores help. And also, heard the baking soda and salt helps. I really had a hard time with them by first chemo a few years ago and didn't know any of this :(. This time thought, the cocktail I'm on doesn't cause them....one big WOOHOO to that!!

    Good luck, I know they are just the worse.
  • Jean 0609
    Jean 0609 Member Posts: 2,462
    #15
    Hi Debbie,
    I got a prescription for Magic Mouthwash from my dentist. It was especially good for my dry mouth.
  • Megan M
    Megan M Member Posts: 3,000
    #16
    MAJW said:

    Mouth sores...
    I was prescribed NYSTATIN.....kept in the frig, you swish it around in your mouth and spit it out....I used it from the very beginning, 4x a day...I never had the first mouth sore...it has a minor numbing effect...it seemed to help also when I lost my taste buds after each infusion, I would use it before I ate something.....also many use a baking soda/salt rinse 4x a day.....Personally the NYSTATIN worked wonders for me....you might get your physician to prescribe it.....no need to suffer when you don't have to!

    I hope things go easier for you this time...
    Hugs, Nancy

    No chemo for me, so, no
    No chemo for me, so, no mouth sores. Just wanted to say that I am praying for you.


    Hugs, Megan

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