A woman with cancer is different. Her type of cancer, personality and support network are all unique, so what you give her should be too.
Are you undergoing cancer treatment, radiation therapy (to the mouth or neck) or chemo? Or are you preparing to start chemotherapy? Do you wonder why you have things like ulcers in your mouth? Do you know what they are? Over the years, many cancer patients using chemo drugs have experienced a condition known as mouth sores.
Chemotherapy treatment has many side effects; chemo mouth sore is one of them. This condition can make it very hard to eat and talk. You need not suffer from cancer sores during chemotherapy. Find out from this article what mouth sores are, how to stay more in control, and things to do to relieve your pain.
Mouth sores are the soreness of the mucous membranes in your mouth. Mouth sores are areas that look like small cuts, ulcers, and swelling in your mouth, and throat. They are also called mucositis if not properly treated.
Mucositis can prevent the production of little or no saliva, which helps to lubricate the mouth. It can make eating, talking, or even swallowing difficult for you.
Sore mouth or mucositis can prevent the continuation of your treatment if it becomes severe.
Sometimes chemotherapy or radiation therapy to the head and neck area can cause sore mouths. Some chemo also affects the mouth flavor making it hard to enjoy your meals. There are treatments for this and things that can help reduce your risk.
Please always notify your doctor if your jaw is swelling and your teeth are sore from cancer treatment. Doing this can help them provide palliative and supportive care for you.
Knowing the cancer treatment that will cause mouth sores will help your healthcare team manage it well.
Below are the leading causes of cancer-related mouth sores:
Mouth sores usually appear a few days after starting treatment and disappear two to three weeks after the end of chemotherapy. And you can get rid of them within a week of treatment. Mouth sores after chemotherapy get worse around 1 โ 2 days after treatment.
The healing time for your mouth sores if you had radiation therapy to your head and neck may take about 6-8 weeks. If your treatments involve a combination of chemo and radiation therapy it may take about 2 weeks to be free from mouth sores.
Mouth sores caused by cancer treatment often worsen about a week after chemotherapy. But everyone is different so the range may vary from person to person. After which, they improve a lot.
The different cancer treatments, sometimes harm the normal cells in your mouth in the process of killing the cancer cells. Some of these treatments can disturb the activities of the good bacteria in your mouth and expose you to different infections, which can cause mucositis or sore mouth.
This can lead to issues with your teeth, gums and even the gland in your mouth that produces saliva. The effects of cancer treatment or drugs depend on the individual and the amount used. ย
You canโt predict what will happen but can prepare for whatever develops. You may experience dry mouth, bleeding gum, tooth pain, or taste changes.ย
A chemotherapy rash usually looks like small blisters with tiny pimples surrounded by pus. Those who develop such a rash will also experience pain.
There is no right way to prevent mouth sores due to chemo, having a chat with your cancer healthcare team on your risk and things to do is a great way to start, but also try the following recommendations :
This mixture includes: EITHER
OR
Stir the solution very well, then gently swish it in your mouth before spitting it out.
Do the following during treatments:
According to the American Cancer Society, the anti-inflammatory medication Benzydamine can be used to treat mouth soreness in people who did radiotherapy to the mouth and throat . Morphine rinses may also be used to ease mouth sores. Dexamethasone is used in mouthwashes for cleansing and irritation.
Dental check-ups before and during treatment, especially before head and neck radiation or chemotherapy will help stop and relieve sores.
Dentists can guide you on a good dental health plan and treat dental problems and cavities before cancer treatment. This can go a long way in helping you deal with mouth sores during treatment. Below are other things that can help:
Researchers show low lasers (LLLTs) help treat sore throats resulting from stem cell transplantation.
When cryotherapy is used, the patient sucks on ice chips before, during, and after short infusions of certain chemotherapy treatments. Some studies have shown this to help prevent mouth sores by decreasing tissue blood flow and limiting high chemical exposure from treatment.
Some vitamins can help with rashes or mouth sores, but you should consult with a medical professional before consuming any. Treatment options available to relieve mouth sores include the:
Don't suffer from chemo-sore mouth on your own, talk to your Doctor, nurse or health care team who can help you deal well with mouth sores. Follow the tips in this article.
You can also share with us your experiences and other tips that can help with cancer mouth sores
Oluwatoyin Joy Oke finished her 4 years course/ program in 2018 as a public health practitioner in Osun State University, Nigeria. And has developed in skills involving prevention, treatment and care of diseases.
She works as a Linkage Coordinator connecting people from the community to treatment and care of Tuberculosis and HIV. She recently picked up another skill in writing which she so far enjoy.
She volunteers in creating awareness for people on topics relating to Cancer, mostly the ones common to women (Cervical and breast cancer), mental health, and HIV. In past years she has received certificates of appreciation from different organizations.
Her hobbies are cooking, watching movies, and writing. She places her worship of God as first in her life and giving of herself to her family and others is a priority.
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A woman with cancer is different. Her type of cancer, personality and support network are all unique, so what you give her should be too.
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