Guest neotas Posted April 24, 2003 Share Posted April 24, 2003 Just a question here.... My mom had her first round of chemo about 2 weeks ago and at about 1.5 weeks she developed little sores in her mouth. She started the magic mouthwash, but it got worse, so the doctor started her on Diflucan and Cipro saying she has a fungal infection. The pain is so bad when she swallows, it is hard to take her meds and she doesn't want to eat....even tho she is hungry. The sores look like little canchor sores....not like thrush that is caused by fungus. The meds are helping slowly, but surely. Is this common? Will this happen after EVERY chemo round? What causes it? Sorry for the questions....I am so new to this. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carleen Posted April 24, 2003 Share Posted April 24, 2003 Tracy, Sadly this is common. My husband started treatment 6 days ago and today woke up with a sore mouth. We were expecting it though. Our nurse informed us that the Chemo works by attacking rapidly generating cells (cancer cells are rapid generators), but the chemo can't differentiate cancerous rapidly multiplying cells from normal rapid cells. That is why red and white blood cells are compromised, the stomach and intestinal lining can suffer some side effects and the mouth and gums have cells that regenerate rapidly as well and sores can develop. In addition, nausea from the chemo, and the stress on the stomach lining, and stress in general can cause additional stomach acid to be produced and that also is a common cause of canker sores. It is recommended that your mom brush her teeth often throughout the day to keep any of the sores from developing infection, especially after eating or drinking anything and also to rinse her mouth throughout the day with a baking soda and water mix that will help neutralize some of the acidity. Also, let your nurse/doctor know, they may have something that can help this. I'm told it is very common, so I would think they would have good suggestions to help. My prayers are with you and your family! Carleen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karma1976 Posted April 24, 2003 Share Posted April 24, 2003 Yes my dad got thursh most likely that is what it is. He got some special meds and it went away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Wood Posted April 24, 2003 Share Posted April 24, 2003 Lucie has had both the sores and the fungus. She has a mouth wash for each, and they seem to work for her. It doesn't happen with each treatment, but it does occur now and then. Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest hopeful2 Posted April 24, 2003 Share Posted April 24, 2003 I brushed with salt and baking soda only and gargled with it about 4x a day. I never did get any sores or thrust. The salt helps toughen everything up I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
renee Posted April 25, 2003 Share Posted April 25, 2003 Mom also had the sores. She was totally miserable, I just forced her to eat small amounts of soft food. You know how important keeping the wieght up is. I would make her take at least one bite every hour or so. She never lost a pound and even tho the cancer has kicked our butts, she is still the same weight she was at diagnoses. Unfortunatly(sp?) the cure can be worse than the desease. Small things will come and go, things will throw you and freak you out. Just keep going down the road and take it one day at a time. I wish you and your's all the luck in the world. It's funny, now that mom is getting near the end, I feel like the older generation with the newbies to this damn desease comming in here. Kick some tail!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karma1976 Posted April 25, 2003 Share Posted April 25, 2003 renee how is she doing...and you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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