| Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 246 Likes: 1 Gold Member (200+ posts) | OP Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 246 Likes: 1 | Hi All, I searched old posts about chewing gum, but I'm still not clear on whether there is any harm to trying regular sugar-free gum in addition to Biotene gun.
My husband chews Biotene gum frequently but would like some other options, if not harmful.
I haven't been on the boards recently due to trying to live and adjust to our new life. Looks like we have a future to look forward to as Sept will be 2 years post treatment! We're grateful and thankful for all the help I found here. Lottie
CG to husband, dx @ age 65, nonsmoker/social drinker. Dx 5/08 SCC Stage IV, BOT T1N2aM0. 33 IMRT - completed 9/12/08. Induction Chemo (Cisplatin, Taxotere & 5FU), plus concurrent Cisplatin. 1/09 PEG removed; 5/09 neg PET/CT; 5/10 PET/CT NED Dental extraction & HBOT 2013; ORN 2014; Debridement/Tissue Transfer & HBOT 2016
| | | | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,406 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,406 | Both Brian and DavidCPA have weighed in on the Biotene gum issue. It would appear to be the most complete product out there. I myself chew Trident with Xylitol on the advice of my dentist cousin. But I'm going to my regular dentist tomorrow and if he has any additional words of wisdom I'll pass them on.
Congrats on the two years upcoming!
David (er, 2)
David 2 SCC of occult origin 1/09 (age 55)| Stage III TXN1M0 | HPV 16+, non-smoker, moderate drinker | Modified radical neck dissection 3/09 | 31 days IMRT finished 6/09 | Hit 14 years all clear in 6/23 | Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome kicked in a few years after treatment and has been progressing since | Prostate cancer diagnosis 10/18
| | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,912 Likes: 52 OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,912 Likes: 52 | Xylitol as a sweeter is a good thing, in gums and other things - it is actually cariostatic. But too much of it has been known to cause diarrhea in some, so I guess you would want to test your tolerance before counting on it 100%. Congrats on the important 2 year mark!
Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant. | | | | Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 246 Likes: 1 Gold Member (200+ posts) | OP Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 246 Likes: 1 | Thank you Brian and David2.
Last year I decided that any monetary donations that I make would go solely to OCF. I do get annoyed with the vast publicity presence of other cancers. When I get solicitations, including organizations that I've supported in the past, I inform them of this decision, and some how it makes me feel a ittle better. Is this a rational way to determine research dollars - based on "popular cancers"? Lottie
CG to husband, dx @ age 65, nonsmoker/social drinker. Dx 5/08 SCC Stage IV, BOT T1N2aM0. 33 IMRT - completed 9/12/08. Induction Chemo (Cisplatin, Taxotere & 5FU), plus concurrent Cisplatin. 1/09 PEG removed; 5/09 neg PET/CT; 5/10 PET/CT NED Dental extraction & HBOT 2013; ORN 2014; Debridement/Tissue Transfer & HBOT 2016
| | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,912 Likes: 52 OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,912 Likes: 52 | We thank you for your confidence and support, at our size every dollar counts. The big charities, like ACS that takes in a billion dollars a year, or some of the large charities that take in hundreds of millions a year, have business models that allow them to grow by servicing just the four big cancers, or one of them. Truth is, that oral cancer with an incidence rate of only 36,000 people a year (vs 225,000 for breast for instance) and a higher death rate as a percentage of those diagnosed than other cancers (47% at 5 years); we will never build the hundreds of thousands of survivors and supporters who become long term donors and volunteers for the big guys. The math just isn't there. So those who are touched by this disease are small in numbers, survivors are fewer, and keeping a non profit alive that is dedicated to this specific disease is a bad business model. We continue because of all of you who donate regularly, even small amounts, and those that volunteer. Thank you for being part of the solution, and voting for a change in this specific disease with your dollars donated.
Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant. | | | | Joined: May 2009 Posts: 1,412 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: May 2009 Posts: 1,412 | I can not chew Biotene, for some reason it dries my mouth out even more. I chew the trident, and it works wonders.
Angelia 31 at Dx. DX: 4/30/09, 10/21/09 SCC on floor of mouth, T1NOMO, T2N1M0 TX: 39 IMRT, 8 cisplatin 11/30/09 PET/CT: 11/03/09: Lymph node involvement PEG/PORT: 11/09 TX end: 02/01/10 PET Scan: 04/05/10 clear PEG Out: 06/21/10 Biopsy: 12/23/10: fibrosis HBO: 01/04/11 - ORN Baby girl born 11-30-12
| | | | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,406 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,406 | My dental hygienist told me about Xylitol candy yesterday and I've ordered some. I did read about associated digestive problems, as Brian mentioned, so I'll be very interested to see what happens with it!
d2
David 2 SCC of occult origin 1/09 (age 55)| Stage III TXN1M0 | HPV 16+, non-smoker, moderate drinker | Modified radical neck dissection 3/09 | 31 days IMRT finished 6/09 | Hit 14 years all clear in 6/23 | Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome kicked in a few years after treatment and has been progressing since | Prostate cancer diagnosis 10/18
| | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 875 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 875 | Hello David2: Where can you find the Trident with Xylitol gum? I found Trident White Cool Bubble sugar free gum and loved it until I started having problems. Then my gastro doctor asked me if I was using anything that was sweetened with sugar free Sorbitol. When I checked the ingredients, that was the first item mentioned. As it turns out, Sorbitol is a form of LAXATIVE. A Compound Pharmacy that has a gum sweetened with Xylitol mentioned that when first using it, you might have frequent bowel movements, but after a while they stop. That's not true with products sweetened with Sorbitol. Anyway, the gum from the Compound Pharmacy burns my tongue, so thought I'd try the gum you mentioned, but can't find it in the stores. Do you order it? Thanks for any information.
julieann
Julieann Nov 2007 SCC on right tonsil following tonsillectomy. Was smoker, QUIT. (Stage IV T2 N2b) 7 weeks radiation one day/wk chemo (carboplatin and 5-FU). Allergic to Taxol; PEG in, lost 30 lbs. TX completed January 2008. PEG out mid- 2008. PET/CT 1/17/2011;2/3/12 NEGATIVE for cancer | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,912 Likes: 52 OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,912 Likes: 52 | Here's a place I bought it online, when I tried it before settling on Biotene. http://www.xlear.com
Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant. | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 875 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 875 | Thanks, Brian. I just ordered some. Hope it works for me. julieann
Julieann Nov 2007 SCC on right tonsil following tonsillectomy. Was smoker, QUIT. (Stage IV T2 N2b) 7 weeks radiation one day/wk chemo (carboplatin and 5-FU). Allergic to Taxol; PEG in, lost 30 lbs. TX completed January 2008. PEG out mid- 2008. PET/CT 1/17/2011;2/3/12 NEGATIVE for cancer | | | | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,406 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,406 | Julieann - My local CVS pharmacy here in LA always carries Trident with Xylitol. Since I hadn't been a gum chewer since childhood I'd never looked into the matter so I guess I assumed all drugstore chains carry it. Perhaps I'm wrong. I also ordered some Xylitol candy from this place, which seemed to have the best prices: http://www.luckyvitamin.com/p-21190...aign=nextag&site=www.nextag.com&D2
David 2 SCC of occult origin 1/09 (age 55)| Stage III TXN1M0 | HPV 16+, non-smoker, moderate drinker | Modified radical neck dissection 3/09 | 31 days IMRT finished 6/09 | Hit 14 years all clear in 6/23 | Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome kicked in a few years after treatment and has been progressing since | Prostate cancer diagnosis 10/18
| | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,912 Likes: 52 OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,912 Likes: 52 | David2, please note that the product this company is selling is the xclear product from the manufacturing and selling company that I posted the link to
Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant. | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 875 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 875 | Thanks David. I'll check out CVS here tomorrow. I ordered some candy and gum with Xylitol from the place Brian sent me, but will also check to see what CVS has. Thanks, again. julieann
Julieann Nov 2007 SCC on right tonsil following tonsillectomy. Was smoker, QUIT. (Stage IV T2 N2b) 7 weeks radiation one day/wk chemo (carboplatin and 5-FU). Allergic to Taxol; PEG in, lost 30 lbs. TX completed January 2008. PEG out mid- 2008. PET/CT 1/17/2011;2/3/12 NEGATIVE for cancer | | | | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,406 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,406 | Got the Xylitol candy. It's hard little balls with a vaguely fruit flavor. Not unpleasant but nothing I couldn't easily do without...
I'm not eating enough of it yet to cause any side effects. Just pop a few in my mouth here and there and hope they're doing some good!
D2
David 2 SCC of occult origin 1/09 (age 55)| Stage III TXN1M0 | HPV 16+, non-smoker, moderate drinker | Modified radical neck dissection 3/09 | 31 days IMRT finished 6/09 | Hit 14 years all clear in 6/23 | Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome kicked in a few years after treatment and has been progressing since | Prostate cancer diagnosis 10/18
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