Side effects for chemotherapy & radiation

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rehana_surti
rehana_surti Member Posts: 5
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
My mom was diagnosed with oral (right jaw) cancer in Apr'10. After being treated with pre-op chemo sessions, removal of the affected parts (Jun'10) and post-op chemo & radiation (35 sessions/ 20 minutes each), the treatment ended in Sep'10. Now, after 20 months, she has again been diagnosed with cancer on the left side of her tongue which is currently being treated with just medicines to keep the cancer in check. She has also developed fresh mouth/ eosophagal sores which, her oncologist says, are due to the effects of radiation. She cannot eat or drink anything at all. Please help.

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  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #2
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    hi rehana
    I am sorry for your moms situation. What can we do to help you and her? It occurs that the sores could be chemotherapy related, as it has been a long time since radiation was done. What drugs is she on? Does she have a peg tube for nutrition/hydration? Is she in pain? What has her cancer response been to the chemo? Again, I am sorry for the situation. It must be very hard on all of you.


    Pat
  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #3
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    L-Glutamine will help with mouth
    sores, and can be swallowed (if she can swallow anything)...maybe swishing her mouth with some of it, and tiny sips for the rest of the glass. Once the sores are in check, several of us are having very good luck with MuGuard to keep the sores away (ask her chemo Dr. about the MuGuard)....

    p
  • rehana_surti
    rehana_surti Member Posts: 5
    #4
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    longtermsurvivor said:

    hi rehana
    I am sorry for your moms situation. What can we do to help you and her? It occurs that the sores could be chemotherapy related, as it has been a long time since radiation was done. What drugs is she on? Does she have a peg tube for nutrition/hydration? Is she in pain? What has her cancer response been to the chemo? Again, I am sorry for the situation. It must be very hard on all of you.


    Pat

    Thanks, Longtimesurvivor & Phrannie51
    My mom is not on chemo, but due to the recurrence, she is taking Gefitinib to combat cancer. As her eosophagus too has developed sores, she cannot get the nasal tube inserted for nutrition. Any way to tackle the sores? Thanks to Phrannie51, I am going to get her to try L-Glutamine. I will keep you all posted about her progress.
  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #5
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    rehana_surti said:

    Thanks, Longtimesurvivor & Phrannie51
    My mom is not on chemo, but due to the recurrence, she is taking Gefitinib to combat cancer. As her eosophagus too has developed sores, she cannot get the nasal tube inserted for nutrition. Any way to tackle the sores? Thanks to Phrannie51, I am going to get her to try L-Glutamine. I will keep you all posted about her progress.

    not trying to stir up controversy
    but gefitimib can cause the ulcers. Just something to explore. Also, a PEG tube is an option for nutrition/hydration. This is a tough choice under her current circumstances and have a downside as well as an upside.

    Pat
  • rehana_surti
    rehana_surti Member Posts: 5
    #6
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    phrannie51 said:

    L-Glutamine will help with mouth
    sores, and can be swallowed (if she can swallow anything)...maybe swishing her mouth with some of it, and tiny sips for the rest of the glass. Once the sores are in check, several of us are having very good luck with MuGuard to keep the sores away (ask her chemo Dr. about the MuGuard)....

    p

    L-Glutamine should help
    thanks to all your suggestions, my mom has started using L-Glutamine. she also has the feeding tube inserted, though the diameter is tiny. but at least, she can take strained liquids without all the accompanying pain. hopefully, she should start feeling better. You are right, Pat. Gefitinib is the culprit as it is a drug in lieu of chemo/ rads. so, it does have similar side-effects. I will also find out about MuGuard.
  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #7
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    rehana_surti said:

    L-Glutamine should help
    thanks to all your suggestions, my mom has started using L-Glutamine. she also has the feeding tube inserted, though the diameter is tiny. but at least, she can take strained liquids without all the accompanying pain. hopefully, she should start feeling better. You are right, Pat. Gefitinib is the culprit as it is a drug in lieu of chemo/ rads. so, it does have similar side-effects. I will also find out about MuGuard.

    glad to hear
    there has been some relief. It is a difficultmsituation.
  • rehana_surti
    rehana_surti Member Posts: 5
    #8
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    longtermsurvivor said:

    glad to hear
    there has been some relief. It is a difficultmsituation.

    Tiny but significant improvement
    Though my mom has just a bit of improvement after starting l-glutamine, it is pretty significant. We all hope that soon she should be able to be off the NG tube. she might be able to intake food orally. Ever hopeful!!!
  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    #9
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    rehana_surti said:

    Tiny but significant improvement
    Though my mom has just a bit of improvement after starting l-glutamine, it is pretty significant. We all hope that soon she should be able to be off the NG tube. she might be able to intake food orally. Ever hopeful!!!

    For your Mom
    Prayers are coming her way!

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