Sore mouth

[L1974]

Hi ladies hoping you can help my sister has just had her third fec treatment, she starts taxol on 9 feb. She has done really well so far but suffering with a very sore mouth. Can anyone offer advice on how she can get some relief please? Many Thanks Louise x

[Ewig]

Hi Louise. I am sorry to hear that your sister has a sore mouth. I haven’t started my chemo yet but I have been researching how to manage side effects. My understanding is that Caphosol is good. You can buy it without a prescription but it is expensive (about £50 for a week's supply but hopefully your sister can get it prescribed). I am sorry I cannot be more helpful. I'm sure others will come on who have more experience with this problem.

Anne

[carolinenailsea]

The sore mouth is very hard. I asked the consultant for extra medication which reduced the problem somewhat but not completely. I constantly cleaned my teeth and used the mouthwash give to me by the hospital. I ate what felt like clean food - mostly fruit. I didnt manage to get rid of the problem but felt I reduced it as much as possible. The worst of the thrush went a few weeks after the chemo but I was left with a horrid taste for several months. I still have residual problems with my mouth 7 months post chemo, its now just irritating rather than a problem. I was glad to get back to my electric toothbrush a month or so ago, that seemed to help. Good luck to your sister, its a long slog. xxx

[Lainey66]

Hi tbere . I stronvlg recommend that your sizter ri ces her mouth out with salt water at least three tines a day. Ic you are in Ireland (I am not sure about anywhere else) Ask the oncolovy unit to prescribe BMX. It numbs the entire mouth. Gargle with it and swallow it slowly in order to coat the throat too. Also get some kingingival mouthwash. Wishing your sister all the best. With hef treatment and I hope her mouth heals soon. Lainey66 xx

[Caswell]

Hi Louise

Sorry to hear this and great your sister has you to support her. I used Gelclair which I had on prescription and really helped. I used it before eating as everything made my mouth sting! Worth a try, it doesn’t taste good but works.

Good luck with the rest of the treatment xx

[Suemarch]

I also had a sore mouth with FEC, with just one ulcer and no thrush. I rinsed my mouth with water after every meal, cleaned my teeth gently with a soft head on my electric toothbrush and used Difflam, which was prescribed 4 times per day by the oncologist. I saw my dentist, who suggested substituting the Difflam twice with salt water -not table salt, but sea salt or rock salt. I haven’t tried this yet, as I am finding the Difflam is doing its job at keeping my mouth clean.

I have finished FEC and have had 2 of 3 cycles of Docetaxel and Herceptin. The 1st of the new drugs resulted in a very sore and raw mouth, mainly the roof and gums. The oncologist reduced my Docetaxel dose slightly for the 2nd cycle, which helped and the overall side effects have been less.

I hope your sister’s mouth improves soon and that her future treatment goes well.

Sue

[louisa73]

I too suffered with a sore mouth overall it was the worst side effect I had because it felt horrible. My mouth was sore it felt furry(like thrush) and everything tasted disgusting. The best thing for me was the mouthwash I had from the hospital, I also had gelclair but didn't feel that did anything for me. Good luck with everything, she will get through this and get rid of those horrible side effects xx

[L1974]

Thanks ladies for all your replies, she seems a little better now thankfully. X

[waveylines]

In her shoes I would contact her Oncologist. Sore mouths & ulcers are common on chemo. Good oral hygene can help. I used a very mild toothepaste, soft baby brush. My mouth became sore so had a very gentle mouth wash prescribed by hospital. I also had a spray for my mouth to replace saliva as that was low. Really helped me.

So contact her Oncologist.

[waveylines]

Meant to say Difflam was too strong for me but cant remember what they prescribed......I had to water it down as my mouth was soooo sensitive. Sorry am not much help.....

[waveylines]

Ive just remembered that a chemo nurse told me to freeze small pieces of fresh pinapple & suck on them. It has to be fresh NOT tinned. It really helped to not only alleviate but heal. She told me to keep it up even when mouth wasn't sore as it was a good preventer....she was right. I used to suck on a couple of pieces every day.....popped each piece into a icecube tray or you can spread out on a baking tray to freeze.

Sorry -am nearly three years post chemo & Ive forgotten a lot of what I did at the time.

[L1974]

Hi thanks for your reply she has been using pineapple the last few days which has helped her a lot x

[LaineyG]

I used Anbesol liquid for my mouth, found it the best treatment for me- but I'd have used the pineapple had I known, so few things that taste nice going through FEC-T

[L1974]

Thanks for your reply. My sister is doing brilliantly today we have his been for afternoon tea at a castle near Durham (uk) it was lovely 👍x

[Hidden]

I was told to suck on an ice lolly whilst having chemo administered and it helped keep sore mouth at bay until my last fec. I still had the furry mouth with bad taste until about day 12 post each chemo.then I went out and had nice meals😁

[jools56]

I suffer from a sore mouth - different cause - lichen planus, which causes sore patches on my gums and inside my cheeks. Sometimes I get ulcers too. Both the hospital doctor and my dentist recommended Difflam oral rinse. It works quite well for me, it numbs the pain and acts as an anti-inflammatory. You can get it at a pharmacy, a bit pricey at £10 or £11 a bottle, but your sister might be able to get is prescribed.