| Joined: Apr 2014 Posts: 4 Member | OP Member Joined: Apr 2014 Posts: 4 | I finished my radiation and chemo on Jan 30. My tongue still has blisters from radiation treatments. What can I do to help the healing process. I have been using a saltwater rinse ever since I started treatments. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I had 35 radiation treatments and my cancer was on my tongue. | | | | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,406 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,406 | Amy, did your doctor prescribe any viscous lidocaine? I'm not sure that it will help with healing but it could give you some temporary pain relief which is especially valuable when eating or drinking. I found it was the only thing that really helped me.
You should also get some stronger pharmaceutical help with the pain if you haven't already.
There are a couple of prescription rinses that I used, one was Caphosol. I believe that's more for treating mucositis but it certainly can't hurt to ask about it.
I hope you get some relief and healing soon. The period just after radiation can be tough. But it will definitely get better!
Hang in there - and welcome to our family. We're all here to help you.
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: Apr 2014 Posts: 4 Member | OP Member Joined: Apr 2014 Posts: 4 | Thanks David2 I have the viscous lidocaine and have been off prescription paid med for little over a month dr thought it was time. I've not used the Caphosol but I will ask when I go back. It just seems to be taking forever to heal and I want to eat so bad. | | | | Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 | Adding baking soda to the salt rinse may help, even with Glutamine powder, to help with healing. If the rinse burns, cut out the salt. It can also be a viral infection, like HSV, causing blisters, which may need antiviral medications, or appropriate meds for any other type of infection(s), which can be caused by treatment, a compromised immune system, or brought out of latency by such, so see your doctor for evaluation and proper diagnosis.
Good luck.
10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil 11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp 01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks 06/11 30 HBO 08/11 RND PNI 06/12 SND PNI LVI 08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy 10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux 10/13 SND 10/13 TBO/Angiograph 10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI 12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo 11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO 03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN 09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy 04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site 06/17 Heart Attack Stent 02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 6 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 6 | Welcome to OCF! Recovery from rads can be a long process. Mouth sores seem to take forever to heel. I agree with David about using the baking soda/salt and warm water rinse. Try using it at least 4 times per day. When doing the rinses swish it around and hold it in your mouth for a good 30 seconds.
You can also try adding some high protein whey powder to your diet. Protein helps to speed heeling. Check this with your doc or nutritionist for the ok as too much protein can affect the kidneys.
Drinking extra water will also help. Every day you need to take in at least 48 oz, 60 oz is even better when recovering from what you have been thru. As far as intake goes, push to get in at least 2500 calories every single day until at least you hit the 1st year mark. It takes alot of nutrients and calories to rebuild your body after cancer treatments.
Best wishes with your continued recovery. ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | | | Joined: Aug 2011 Posts: 269 Gold Member (200+ posts) | Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: Aug 2011 Posts: 269 | I used glutasolve, which like paul suggested, is a glutamine powder, the baking soda/salt rinse and manuka honey which should be over 16+. I think all helped. My sores were very minimal, and healed quickly. Hope you find something that works for you.
Nancy (53 at dx) Metastatic SCC. Stage III. HPV positive with occult primary. N1, no ecs 7/1/11 - L-Selective neck dissection. Tonsillectomy. All clean. No rad, no chemo. 5/29/13 - Found primary 7/3/13 - TORS 7/8/13 - Emergency Surgery/Blood vessel burst in throat 8/9/13 - Peg in 9/3/13 - Radiation starts 30 IMRT, 60gy BOT, 56gy both sides of neck 10/14/13 - Radiation ended! 11/12/13 - PEG out!
| | | | Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 | Also, burns from hot liquids, foods can cause blisters. During treatment, while recovering, avoiding foods that are hot, spicy, acidic, sharp texured will help reduce injury to the mouth, tongue and throat. I still eat foods warm, has more taste anyway, being hot foods still burn my mouth, and dulls my taste buds.
10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil 11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp 01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks 06/11 30 HBO 08/11 RND PNI 06/12 SND PNI LVI 08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy 10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux 10/13 SND 10/13 TBO/Angiograph 10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI 12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo 11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO 03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN 09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy 04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site 06/17 Heart Attack Stent 02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs
| | | | Joined: Nov 2013 Posts: 37 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | Contributing Member (25+ posts) Joined: Nov 2013 Posts: 37 | Amy,
Sorry to hear about the mouth sores. I have a pesky blister that pops up under my tongue everytime I eat something it doesn't agree with. I chalk it up to "still healing" and will have to ask the question when I meet up with my RO this Tuesday. I agree with Paul that hot foods tend to aggravate my mouth more than anything else. Hope this helps.
Fish
SCC front left lateral tongue T2N0M0 After neck dissection. partial glossectomy 12/26/13. Perinueral Invasion. IMRT 60gy 30 treatments beginning 2/5/14 through 3/19/14.
| | | | Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 559 Likes: 1 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 559 Likes: 1 | I found that drinking iced tea caused my blisters to be get worse. While the cold icy liquid helped with discomfort in the short term, the long term exposure to tannic acid (in the tea) was worse than the short term benefit.
It seems cold milk had the same effect.
Sadly cold water may be your best bet.
Tony, 69, non-smoker, aerobatics pilot, bridge player/teacher, avid dancer (ballroom, latin, swing, country)
09/13 SCC, HPV 16, tonsillectomy, T2N0. 11/13 start rads, no chemo 12/13 taste gone, dry mouth, 02/14 hair slowly returning 05/14 taste the same, dry sinuses, irrigation helps. 01/15 food taste about 60% returned, dry sinuses are worse in winter. 12/20 no more sinus problems, taste pretty good
| | | | Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,291 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,291 Likes: 1 | [quote]Sadly cold water may be your best bet.[/quote]Give high PH water a try. It really offers a soothing "smooth" texture, no burning. Not sure why more folks don't pick up on it. look for 9+ pH
Don Male, 57 - Great health except C Dec '12 DX: BOT SCC T2N2bMx, Stage 4a, HPV+, multiple nodes 1 tooth out Jan '13 2nd tooth out Tumor Board -induction TPF (3 cycles), seq CRT 4-6/2013 CRT 70gr 2x35, weekly carbo150 ended 5/29,6/4 All the details, join at http://beatdown.cognacom.com | | |
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