Mouth Sores... Please help

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Joy-Anna
Joy-Anna Member Posts: 24
edited August 2015 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

Hey Sisters, I'm wondering if anyone else is experiencing mouth sores. I started chemo on July 1. I am going to be getting my 4th chemo on the 12th of this month and yesterday started getting mouth sores. Bad ones. I'm trying to be positive and stay strong, but theses sores really hurt bad and I'm suffering. I thought I would dodge this bullet because I hadn't had any issues so far but now, they're here. Any guidance on this would be much appreciated.

Love you all, hugs.

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited August 2015

    Several options, one Is a baking soda, salt and water swish and spit - 1/2 teaspoon each to a cup of water. Use it multiple times a day. Are you icing your mouth during chemo? Bring an insulated tumbler full of ice chips and try to keep them in your mouth, particularly during any taxane chemo.That can help as well as L-Glutamine, 30g of powder dissolved in a cold, non-acidic drink each day - also may help with neuropathy. Ask your MO before you try it though. Prescription options include Mugard, Caphosol, Gly-oxide, and there may be others. There is something called Magic Mouthwash, which is also prescription and has an antibiotic, anti fungal, anesthetic, antacid and antihistamine. Avoid toothpaste with sodium laurel sulfate - it can cause mouth sores independent of chemo.

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  • Joy-Anna
    Joy-Anna Member Posts: 24
    edited August 2015

    Thank you for your quick response, I no longer feel alone and you've given me alot of options and hope. I have been doing the baking soda, salt water swish. I have not done ice chips during chemo but you can bet that I will be starting that on the 12th with my next chemo. I'm going to call my doctor about prescriptions right now.

    God bless and thank you again.... Soooooooooooo much.

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited August 2015

    Biotene mouthwash is also recommended. My MO gave me acyclovir for mouth sores (though I didn't need it, so I can't say whether it's useful).

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited August 2015

    Joy-Anna, if it helps, take look at the article Mouth and Throat Sores from our main site for tips on managing this side effect.

    Hope you feel better soon!

    The Mods

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited August 2015

    Joy-Anna - I used Caphosol as I had about a dozen mouth sores after infusion #1. I am prone to them anyway, but once I started the ice and avoidance of acidic foods like citrus and tomatoes I was fine, I didn't get them again.The Caphosol cleared the sores within 48 hours, and my oncologist gave me samples from his office. I think the prescription is fairly pricy so see if your doc has samples you could try out - you definitely don't want to pay for something if it may not work.

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  • Trvler
    Trvler Member Posts: 3,159
    edited August 2015

    K always gives wonderful tips so check her stuff out.

    My tip is to try Lysine. I had terrible bouts of cold sores a couple of times in my life. I am not sure if the type of sores you are talking about are like these or not. I didn't have mouth sores while on chemo. But I would take lysine and not only did it nip them in the bud, I stopped getting them altogether. I take two the second I would feel the 'tingle' of one coming on. Then, pop them once or twice throughout the day for a few days. Check with your doctor. I hope something helps you. I know how excruciating these things can be. There were times where I had several at the same time.

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  • Joy-Anna
    Joy-Anna Member Posts: 24
    edited August 2015

    Thank you all for your suggestions, I'm following up with them. I'm really hopeful that I can manage this without it getting anymore out of control thanks to you guys. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!

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  • auntienance
    auntienance Member Posts: 4,216
    edited August 2015

    I used the baking soda/salt mixture 4 times a day as well as ice during infusion. I had only one minor breakout after my first treatment. The biotene mouthwash helped some too. Hope you can get some relief.

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  • Pessa
    Pessa Member Posts: 519
    edited August 2015

    eating ice cream helped a lot and was enjoyable!

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  • Noor46
    Noor46 Member Posts: 68
    edited August 2015

    I drunk a cup of ordinary tea with 1 or 2 thin slices of fresh ginger in it 2-3 times a day and have had no mouth sores at all, except one time, when I didn't drink gingertea for 14 days. It also helps against nausea.

    Noor

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  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 57,235
    edited August 2015

    Along with the mouth wash, Biotene also has toothpaste, mouth spray & gel. I used them all and they seemed to help (they were recommended to me by my dentist when I was doing chemo).

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