From the wealth of experience in here, I'm curious, what's the longest you've seen a mouth sore hang on after treatment? During treatment, Vince was fortunate to be able to keep the mouth sores under control using a combination of washes; hydrogen peroxide/water, caphasol, mugard & pink stuff. He finished Aug 31 and has recovered amazingly well since, back to work in Oct, already logged 2 int'l business trips. The only real residual issues he's having are the dreaded dry mouth, some swallowing issues (headed to U of C today for a swallow study) and a mouth sore on the side of his tongue that will not heal. We're not worried about it being something bad, the docs have had several good looks at it, but he's wondering when he can expect it might heal. Any thoughts?
Ana, it can take a couple months for all the mouth sores to heal completely. If this one sore still hasnt healed then he may need some help with it. I wouldnt rule out a biopsy just to ease your concerns. It probably is nothing but you want to be certain so it should be biopsied. When I had a problem area, I was referred to wound specialists who are experts in getting things that wont heal to mend. I would suggest asking the docs to send your husband to the wound specialists to see what they can do to help with the last stubborn sore.
Thanks Christine, I hadn't thought of a wound specialist. He's 6 months post tx now, we just didn't know how long we can reasonably expect his radiated tissue to take to heal. We're going to see both the Rad Onc and the ENT today for what the Rad Onc lovingly calls a "relatively well baby visit", will mention your suggestion.
In addition to wound management, blood tests to see if there are any deficiencies in delaying healing or sign of infection. I had a combination, including scraping the tongue on a jaggered tooth, which was biopsied as a precaution, eating sharp textured foods. Hydrogen peroxide can dry the mouth. If used, rinse the mouth with water afterwards. Good luck with everything.
Ana, please check back in and let us know how your husband made out today. I would like to hear what the doc says about a sore hanging on for 6 months after radiation. To me it sounds like a long time and it needs some help to heal.
Good luck!!!
I had one for 8 weeks and it drove me around the bend!!!! It was on my old tongue -
It was caused by irritation to the area. I think initially it been there for a while even before I discovered it. I think it was a hang around from rads to be honest where it was exposed to the incoming rads "beam" but over time and not being treated and continuous irritation it became painful so I noticed it.
Anyway of course I had a meltdown first. Had my SO's fellow look at it. He kinda blew me off saying it looked like I'd bitten it (not! it could rub on my teeth but impossible to bite that area). Anyway I went to my back up ENT and he said it looked like a very small canker (it was deep though) So he prescribed Oracort, and told me if it doesn't go away in a few weeks come back he'd do a biopsy.
I picked up the prescription a few days later, then started using it according to the directions (once a day at bedtime) It seemed to be healing but very slowly. So I changed my plan. Cleaned and rinsed my mouth after every meal (acidic foods etc... irritated it more) then I applied the oracort, it dries the area and forms a barrier. After a few weeks of this it was almost completely gone. Now it's fine. There was an area next to it more lateral on my tongue that was always sensitive. I had them file two molars in that area that were rubbing on my tongue (they rounded out any sharpened edges) and it healed as well. Since then things have been fine.
My tongue was reconstructed and sometimes swells it's already a little too big for my mouth with the flap, so when it swells it can really get irritated when I am eating and rubbing on it all the time.
thank you Cheryl. They have mentioned the biting thing, V says that's not it. I'm glad I mentioned this to y'all, will make me more proactive during the visit today. And your timing is perfect, I'm waiting for him to get out of swallow study, then it's Rad Onc followed by ENT.
V had his swallow study today and saw the speech path, Rad Onc & ENT. Swallow study revealed a rigidity in the flap that closes over his windpipe, explaining some swallowing issues he's been having. They prescribed some more exercises and some PT.
Re: spot on his tongue. Both Rad Onc & ENT had a good look at it. Apparently, it's more of a thin spot than a sore, no open canker. It also appears to be rubbing on a tooth. They expect it will improve, just will take time. They prescribed Salagen to help with saliva production. He'll take it and see if it helps without creating bad side affects. (i.e. lots of sweat). That's it in a nutshell. Thank you for the advice today.
Do your hubby a favor and consider having the tooth filed a bit it works wonders!!!;o) so glad things are good!!!! YEAH!
Thanks for the kind words Cheryl, and thanks for the reminder on filing the tooth...need to make that appointment, will do it now....:)
Thanks for posting the results of your husbands check up. His docs sound like they are right on top of everything. Congrats to you both on the good check up. So glad the spot was just a spot and nothing serious!
Your Story re another sore that does not heal bothers me. If you do not see an improvement in a couple of weeks ask for an excisional biopsy of the sore. Tell them that you know how thorough they like to be and how they would want to rule out anything untoward. By the way, excisional biopsy is an important point. Punch biopsies and fna's don't pick up this kind of sore. Be proactive - be insistent and tell them you know how they want to be thorough. Good luck.
Donna
Hi Ana,
Eric had Sarcoidosis many years ago and takes Prednisone 3x/wk. He is also having issues of lingering bookend sores on either side of his tongue near the back teeth. There is some improvement but they are painful. His team of doctors reviewed his medical history and discussed his issues and feel the Prednisone may be the cause of such slow healing. I don't know if this applies to your husband but maybe something to discuss with his doctors. Good luck!
Thanks again folks. As of now, V's Sarcoidosis is asymptomatic, so he doesn't take any meds. The score continues to bother him. During his last visit, the ENT has him trying something called "Vanderbilt Solution", 4 x day rinse. He had another follow-up CT today, so he'll be back at U of C in a week to get results and for a general check up, will continue to talk to them about this persistent sore.
Hopefully he gets a clean bill of health!
Ulcers from mucositus, following treatment, can last 2-3 months post treatment, and in some, fail to heal in an extended time. For not healing ulcers, Pentoxifylline, is sometimes used. I hope this helps.
Thanks Paul, I'll add that to the list to talk to doc about. V is 7 months out.
On a side note, in an effort to help the saliva along, he had his first acupuncture today, used a place recommended by his onc. I know it's a small gun and only half of folks find it useful, but it it works, will be worth it. He also started speech therapy last week, having some stiffness issues with both the BOT and the valve that closes the air pipe when he eats. Radiation, the gift that keeps giving. That said, he knows darn good and well how lucky he is, how well he's come through this!