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christielee
christielee Member Posts: 2

my mom is in stage 2 of idc, she is wondering if anyone would know why all of her fillings are falling out of her teeth. she has been going through chemo since march. she was receiving adramiacin(sorry about the spellling). now she is on another drug. she is really confused as to why her fillings are falling out of her teeth. and she was wondering as well what to use because her hands are peeling and cracked really bad. thanks christie

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  • BellydancerinNJ
    BellydancerinNJ Member Posts: 60
    edited April 2009

    Unfortunately I can't give you any info but I did see a news report on TV about a month ago (right before I started Adriamycin/Cytoxan).  Maybe you could do some research on the web?  Or maybe her onc or another doctor has some knowledge about this?  Sorry I can't offer much, good luck!

    Caroline

  • flash
    flash Member Posts: 1,685
    edited April 2009

    I don't know anything about the teeth but I can give you worked for me during chemo.  I used straight almond oil or Vitamin E oil on the skin.  For me it had the best penetration and seemed to do the best long term.  All of your skin has to be treated very gently and carefully during chemo.  Treat it like it's a newborn baby's skin.

    I hope all goes well.

    regards

  • ravdeb
    ravdeb Member Posts: 3,116
    edited April 2009

    The chemo can affect your dental work and cause all kinds of problems. I had one tooth that basically fell apart and had to be removed. I had seen the dentist before chemo and he said the problems I had after chemo were because of the chemo.

     It happens.

     I also used some oils on my skin during chemo because the chemo can dry you out. She needs to drink a lot as well to keep hydrated. 

    Wishing you both well...

  • cherneski
    cherneski Member Posts: 726
    edited April 2009

    I have heard, that chemo really messes up your teeth.  I am going for  a cleaning before I start chemo. 

    I know this is going to sound crazy for the dry skin and may not smell the best, I use this on myself and all my kids after my pediatrician suggested it.  CRISCO, yep just plain old crisco that you use to bake with.  It is cheap and does wonders for softening chapped dry skin. 

  • nelia48
    nelia48 Member Posts: 539
    edited April 2009

    I remember sitting in the chemo recliner receiving my treatment and feeling that awful pressure in my jaws!  Then, as time went on, my teeth just pounded, and my filling did fall out.  I also had some pretty bad abscesses.  Any of the books I've read have said to have all dental work done before chemo.  It didn't say why.  I'm guessing now it's because if you have cavities, old fillings, etc., they will act up during chemo.

    Also, my skin was a problem during chemo.  At about #4 treatment, all the cracks on the bottom of my feet started to peel of with thick pieces of skin.  I could hardly walk, and it felt like I had walked a mile on burning coals.  Just used tons of cream until it healed up.

  • otter
    otter Member Posts: 6,099
    edited April 2009

    The reason to have dental work done before you start chemo is because dental work, even just a dental cleaning or deep probing, inevitably causes some gum damage.  This allows bacteria from your mouth to get into your bloodstream.

    That's a bad thing to have happen when your immune system (neutrophils, especially) is suppressed by the chemo.

    otter 

  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited April 2009

    christie ~  There's another recent thread about chemo and dental work that might interest you:

    Tons of teeth issues 3 yrs post chemo

    Is the drug your Mom's on now Taxotere?  That one is known to cause the sort of skin problem you're describing.  Be sure her onc knows about it.  Some peeling is okay, but for some women the Taxotere has to be stopped and another drug substituted to avoid more serious, long-term damage.  If it is Taxotere, you'll find references to "foot & hand syndrome" within this thread:

    Anyone on just Taxotere and Cytoxan?

    As far as what to use on them, I would think something like Aquafor would help.  But, again, be sure her onc knows the extent of the damage, because there may be an RX that's better than anything OTC.   Deanna 

  • maryk6
    maryk6 Member Posts: 5
    edited April 2009

    Hi christie,

     i am sorry to hear your Mom is having troubles with her teeth and skin. I do not have anything to offer except maybe check with her Dentist. They can be very helpful and often forgotten about in this proccess. My Mom is also stage 2 idc grade 3. She was diagnosed last July. left side mastectomy. no chemo or radiation. Came back this last March. More surgery and getting ready to start Chemo in May. My mom is 83 yrs old. Hope you are well. It is hard trying to help family members and deal with the personal blow!! Kay

  • reen
    reen Member Posts: 164
    edited April 2009

    One other thing that could be causing the teeth problems is the steroids you get before chemo.  They do deplete calcium.  Just a thought.

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