Oral Cancer Foundation
Posted By: klr Yellow Tongue - 01-08-2014 10:17 PM
Hi All!! Another question again:)) Did any of you experience Yellow Tongue post Rads/Chemo? My Dad is about 2 months post treatment and in the last week has noticed the entire top of his tongue is yellow. We don't go in for his follow up PET until the end of Feb. (He was supposed to have an 8 week check up last week but because of all the crazy weather it was canceled. So we won't be making another trip up to MN for someone to look at him until his PET. Should I be worried about this? Is this something I should insist he make the drive up to MN to get it checked out?

Thanks and Happy New Year!
Posted By: PaulB Re: Yellow Tongue - 01-08-2014 11:24 PM
Could be oral thrush if it can be scraped off. Basically an out of control yeast infection, Candida albicans, a fungal infection that is common with people with an impaired immune system, like cancer. They have prescription antifungias for this, Diflucan, clotrimizole and other zole medications that easily treats this. Left untreated, it can go into the blood system via the gums, ulcers.

Good luck, and see what the dr says.
Posted By: PaulB Re: Yellow Tongue - 01-09-2014 11:52 PM
Another thing, is rope mucus, the thick saliva, can have a yellow tinge to it. I say, when in doubt, check it out. You may have a local PCP that can help.
Posted By: BrianPK Re: Yellow Tongue - 01-10-2014 12:27 AM
I'm still in treatment and have horrible yellow tongue... Even using nystatin(anti fungal Rx) swish four times a day... Feels like I haven't brushed in a week even though I brush like 5x a day... Doc said she doesn't think it's thrush but best to just use it to prevent.

No real advice but see a PCP to make sure it's not thrush, lots of sympathy for the old man from me... This is not the funnest feeling.
Posted By: ngk Re: Yellow Tongue - 01-10-2014 01:03 AM
Feel his pain...and everyone else that has this problem. My dds said I do not have thrush anymore, but believes its now neuropathic. Taking vitamin b12 and praying like crazy. The very best of luck.
Posted By: BrianPK Re: Yellow Tongue - 01-11-2014 01:28 PM
Just tested a 50:50 mixture of OTC hydrogen peroxide and water, swishing it for 30 sec then spitting all x 2, provides some relief of the "coating" of my my mouth. It caused no pain almost everything else does. It foamed up a lot so I had to stand at the sink and spit it all out, but I think he foaming action is oxygen killing germs so smile.

I then used a toothbrush that I heated under hot water to help debride the coatings on my gums/ roof of mouth tongue and teeth.

My mouth feels cleaner now than it has in a couple weeks. I have tried the same brushing with toothpaste and or after sodium baking soda swish and he diff is considerable using hydrogen peroxide. Hope this helps!!!! I feel so much better right now.



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