| | Joined: May 2014 Posts: 6 Member | OP  Member
Joined: May 2014 Posts: 6 | Hi,
I experienced Thrush post surgery and prior to RAD/Chemo, about 3 months ago. Now I am 8 weeks post treatment and have been miserable and finally realized I have it again. I am starting the Fluconazole again today which should get rid of it.
My question is how to prevent this from recurring? I don't want to take these drugs all the time. I assume it is the dry mouth that is the cause of the Thrush this time.
Otherwise, I am doing quite well and have recovered a lot of taste and am much stronger.
Thanks
Tom, age 67 - Stage IVA HPV16+ oropharyngeal SCC, T2N2aM0, Right tonsil, lymph node
1/9/14 Positive biopsy diagnosis
1/16 Cancer Panel
1/21 TORS (Trans Oral Robotic Surgery) to remove tonsil; 1mm margin clear.
2/10 Neck Dissection 1 involved lymph node (extra-capsular activity puts chemo in the mix), 40+ nodes removed
3/17 Begin IMRT RAD & Cisplatin. RAD of 30 treatments, 5 days a week.
4/7 2nd of 2 Cisplatin
4/25 Last RAD
Never installed feeding tube.
Now in recovery.
| | | | | 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 | Your're right, dry mouth is a cause, and so is a compromised immune system, and can develop drug resistnce. There are many home remedies that may be of help, if you seach, but right now you need to take the fluconozole, aka diflucan, if prescribed until completion of the prescription even if the signs and symptoms cease. Sugar, yeast, alcohol feed thrush, so you may want to limit that, and improving your immune system will help. Brushing your teeth, tongue, rinsing will also help. Thrush is easily treatable, but if not done, can go to the throat, esphogus, stomach, and possibly systemically if it gets in the blood systm which can happen through the gums, ulcer, stomach whereby it is then invasive or disseminated candiasis, which can be deadly.
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: 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 | There isnt much you can do to prevent thrush. Your immune system is compromised right now which doesnt help. You are right the dry mouth probably plays a part in getting thrush.
I dont know if it helps or not but I would always get a new toothbrush after I recovered from thrush. Try using a waterpik (on its lowest setting w/ wam water and a little mouthwash) to help keep your mouth extra clean. Finish all your thrush meds. Ask your doc for a refill on the prescription so you can quickly obtain another prescription if the thrush pops up again.
Feel better and good luck!
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: 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 | I've had appx 5 bouts with the dreaded Thrush PT and one day my dentist told ne to eat some Activa every day. Have done so for a few years now and no Thrush so I don't know if I'm lucky or it's the Activa but I'm going to continue with the Activa.
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 2014 Posts: 56 "OCF across the pond" Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | "OCF across the pond" Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2014 Posts: 56 | I keep getting oral thrush, ever since radiotherapy finished and the mucositis healed. Every few weeks. I have almost no saliva. I do use artificial saliva, which is only minimally helpful.
I've been through Nystan, etc, but I do have Fluconazole now, at least it keeps it at bay for a little while.
Mar 99 white patch tongue
Dec 11 white patch changed shape. biopsy neg
Sep 13 white patch ulcerated. Biopsy
Nov 13 diag Tongue SCC T2N2BM0 poorly Differ.
Dec 13 Hemigloss. neck dissect.Trach.Caldwell Luc (suspect cysts inside face, neg), teeth out. forearm flap, abdo graft
Feb 14 PEG tube
Feb/Mar 14. 30 x radio 60gy Grade 3 Mucositis, burns, hair loss, very ill. Nerve damage ear neck shoulder
Jun 14 *now* PEG out. Have lost 98 lbs in 1 yr. Anorexia. Dysphagia, liquids only. Dysphasia. Fatigue.
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 | Some people never really clear thrush because of the abundance throughout the gut. Treating repeatedly only kills off active cultures which repopulate within days. Other probiotic type products include Three-Lac and Five-Lac.
SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2014 Posts: 286 "OCF Down Under" Gold Member (200+ posts) | | "OCF Down Under" Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2014 Posts: 286 | Fluconazole did the job for me after several recurrences. Hope it works for you.
Cheers, Dave (OzMojo) 19Feb2014 Diagnosed T2N2bM0 P16+ve SCC Tonsil. 31Mar2014 2 Cisplatin, 70gy over 7 weeks (completed 16May2014) 11August2014 PET/CT clear. 17July2019 5 years NED.
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2013 Posts: 10 Member | | Member
Joined: Nov 2013 Posts: 10 | Im out of treatment a yr now. The past 3 mos. Ive been treated for thrush. My last checkup 4 days ago my dr. said he didnt see any sign of it. It has gotten very difficult to talk and to swallow and now feel like my tongue and inside of mouth is swollen. Has anyone else experienced these symptoms. I cant seem to get a reason. I am back on Diflucan but doesnt seem to be helping much this time. Really miserable here. Any ideas would be helpful.
Thanks, Bill | | | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,264 Likes: 5 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,264 Likes: 5 | Did you have a neck dissection? And what kind of cancer ? BOT?
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2013 Posts: 10 Member | | Member
Joined: Nov 2013 Posts: 10 | Back of tongue and aong lower left base. also into tonsil and one node. | | |
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