My friend started her chemo today for Stage IV tonsil SCC. On Cisplatin/Taxotere/5FU. The chemo nurse mentioned that it was probable she would get mouth sores because her 5FU dose was high. Just a quick question-how quickly do these mouth sores appear? And do they last the entire 9 weeks of the 3 cycles, or do they get better in between cycles? I didn't want to ask the nurse in front of her and have her get discouraged....one day at a time.....Thanks for any input you may have.

liz, if [when] she develops mouth sores they could last a long time. It is really good to be ready to start treating them the minute they show up, so her nurses and Doc. should be on the ball about watching for them, as well as her caregivers. They can get etter between cycles, depending on how the cycles are spread out. Having some mild soups and liquid suppliments [Ensure, Boost, etc. ]in the pantry and a bottle of non-flavored Pedialyte would be a good thing. These sores will make it hard for her to want to swallow anything. Wishing her good luck. Amy in the Ozarks

Liz...husband is scheduled for #20 of 33 IMRT and #4 of 6 chemo tomorrow morning....Although he had a PEG tube inserted, he is still eating and drinking very well. The only side effect from chemo has been temporary diarrhea, which is being controlled by over-the-counter meds. He has yet to take prescription meds for pain, says Advil works just fine, thus far.

...some 'yeast' in mouth recently, but now okay; no mouth 'sores'...


EVERY PERSON IS DIFFERENT! Your friend may be as lucky as Buzz has been. I certainly hope so.

Dear Liz, It has been found in some studies that sipping an Ice slush when 5 Fluorouracil infusion is going on is helpful in reducing the mouth sores. Besides the rate of the infusion is also implicated in either oral ulcers or diarrhea
love,
Dileep

Thanks so much for all the info, I had also read about ice chips while Cisplatin is infused, so I did suggest that she try that. The 5FU is being infused via pump over 96 hours-don't know if that makes it easier or harder to tolerate-easier I would assume, but I assume nothing anymore!

Liz

I didn't have any sores until the end last cycle, and they were bad enough to keep me from eating. I was so glad that the pump was finally gone at that point, not much else bothered me

Just my $0.02

Kevin

Hi Liz,

Your friend's treatment sounds similar o mine. I had almost the same chemo. I started and ended with 5fu over 4.5 days. I don't want to be a downer, but my sores started 5 days after 5fu. That was October 11, 2004. I couldn't eat until January 29th, 2005. I used my peg tube for the 3+ months. The only thing that could pass through my mouth were very small sips of water through a straw. The 5fu and radiation destroyed my mouth for a very long time. We all react differently to 5fu, but it is very nasty but very effective.

Steve

Thank you Kevin and Steve for your input, I am praying that she has less of a reaction than you did Steve. The inner strength of all of you that have gone through this hell never ceases to amaze me. My friend just said she feels "wiped out" at this point. I think a combination of physical and emotional exhaustion. At this point the docs have not suggested a peg tube, though they did say they would insert one at the beginning of radiation. I realize that nutrition does play an important role, your body can't heal if you don't meet your nutritional requirements.
May you all stay well from here on-I pray for all of you!!
Liz

Liz, I have also heard of sucking on popsicles to help prevent mouth sores. Good luck. Linda

Is she getting radiation as well? Chemo alone would be an unusual approach for Stage IV cancer...

Radiation will also cause mouth sores, in fact it is the major cause in most patients as many oncologists do not use 5FU.

Has she been tested for human papilloma virus? Tonsillar cancer is considered by many to be a "surrogate" for HPV-caused oral cancer (although not all tonsillar cancers prove positive for the virus). However since it has major implications for response to treatment and prognosis, it would be good for her to request such a test.

Gail