| | Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 2 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 2 | My friend has a cancer tumor under the tongue for which she is receiving daily radiation. I believe she has completed 4 weeks and has two to go. The mouth sores are painful and make eating or talking difficult. Does anyone have advice I can share with her? I'm encouraging her to join the support group. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,293 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,293 Likes: 1 | Welcome Sang.
Please do encourage your friend to join, at least read and research here. Salt/baking soda in warm water works well to ease the pain. The doctor can prescribe liquid lidocaine to ease the pain. Doctor can also prescribe something called magic mouthwash that contains ingredients to sooth the mouth.
good luck,
Don
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 | | | | | Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 4 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 4 | There can be a viral like hsv1, Bacterial or fungal infection like thrush, , combination, from the mucocitis, lowered immune numbers, good bacteria, that may need to be treated with prescription meds. The rinses work well, impeccable oral care, changing your toothbrush often as not to reinfect. If they burn, cut out the salt.
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: Oct 2013 Posts: 559 Likes: 1 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 559 Likes: 1 | Without oral lidocaine my mucositis would be unbearable. Of course I could probably be a little more diligent in my oral hygiene regimen also.
I was given chlorhexidine gluconate as a mouth rinse by both my dentist and my ENT. Both say it creates a super clean environment in mouth that helps stop the increased chance of tooth decay brought on by radiation.
Tony
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: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Regardless of what this is she needs a ton of calories and water each and every day from now until perhaps 2 years POST TREATMENT.
When swallowing is difficult she will have to turn to a liquid diet and the BEST re calories IMO is Boost VHC which stands for Very High Calories. This small 8 oz can delivers a whopping 560 cals so she needs to swallow less to get max cals which is a Godsend. You must order it over the internet, Amazon for one, or order it tru a pharm like Walgreens or CVS.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 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: 7 | If ordering Boost VHC from Amazon (or anything else from Amazon) PLEASE first click on the green box on the main forum pages. By taking an extra second to click on OCF's Amazon box, you will help OCF by giving OCF a kickback from your purchase. Even small purchases add up to being a big help for a small nonprofit like OCF.
Thank you in advance for helping!
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: Jan 2014 Posts: 2 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 2 | Thank you everyone for your responses. I will definitely share the ideas with her. Nice to know that a caring community exists out there when folks are ready to reach out! Appreciate your time.
Sang
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