sore tongue after aggressive radiation and chem

• By Concerned2008
• Posted April 12, 2008 at 2:16 pm
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My mother-in-law had the same problem with her chemo treatments. She was told to suck on chipped ice DURING her chemo sessions. That has helped her somewhat.

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• By Karensemp
• Posted April 13, 2008 at 10:28 am
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I did had this after treatment . You may have a form of thrush. Ask you doctor for some Magic mouth wash. This is a after effect no one tells you about. Sorry I found out the hard way also. All your good bacteria is kiiled off along with the bad . This leaves you with a yeast problem. There is also a medication called Niostatin that could help and also kicks in the immune system. I still have problems from time to time with this 25 years later still. You can go to the health food store also and get somthing called Primadophilus this has good microorganisms in it. You body needs to restore your system. You want to put this back into your system ASAP. Your mouth will be dry first then form blisters . It hurts . You want to get the yeast free /hypoallergenic kinda I use Natrues Way . This forms in the in the intestinal tract. there are also great books on Canada and that is what you have I am sure . My mom is now fighing cancer and well I gave her a bottle and it was the best thing she has been on. I made her take them I was in FL with her a week she was doing much better . You also want to stay away from foods with sugar. and yeast. This is hard as all has sugar. stay off bread it is the worst you can eat , Enriched look for the word in foods stay away Pasta unless whole wheat. Do this for a few months I bet you feel better. I use triskets instead of bread I eat yogart plain put a fruit in it natural sugar is bad but not as bad if you can deal with the tast make a shake out of it drink it as much as you can stand make sure it the yogart has live acidophilus in it . Also when you sweat wash it off .Your body stores all you have taken in . The fat cells store bad stuff so detox your body wash sweat off. It will reabsorb into your body I kept getting a rash from my sweat. See we detox from sweat . urine , all that and sweat. drink much water flush your system . No one told me what the side effects were after they got the cancer out. This works try it. Stick to it . You will also find energy when you do this . The mouth wash and niostatin is not dangerous it may make you hungry and give you a boost in enery . As this is your body healing . Hope this helps.

Ps get your self into a sauna and sweat that mess out of you Then wash wash let me know how you feel use soap that is white and as natural as you can .My email is Snowbunnypa@aol.com. That tongue will crack and bleed it you do get the mouth wash have you doc call it is wont hurt to try.

Karen

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• By Christine7
• Posted April 24, 2008 at 4:02 pm
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Diana, I had squamous cell carcinoma of the oral and basal tongue as well as one lymph node. I finished my 35 radiation treatments in December and made through only 1/2 of the chemo treatments. My immune system was not good to start with and with all the therapies, I was hospitalized twice. I continue to have problems with soreness in the mouth and throat. I read one of the comments about the ice chips, but I could not handle ice directly into my mouth nor even water for several months. I am grateful that I had a feeding tube to help with nutrition and fluids. In February I decided that I should try harder to take in liquids by mouth. A friend of mine gave me a bottle Fiji water (http://www.fijiwater.com/). I was able to handle this water in small amounts and now I can drink any filtered water. I have increased my ability to eat more things. But I do get discouraged because I still have discomfort and of course the blisters.

Another person who posted a comment talked about candida and thrush. I have periodic bouts with this as well as mucousitis. Unfortunately, I have not given up on all simple sugars, but I have been able to add more types of 100% fruit juices to my intake. I use honey to lightly sweeten herbal tea. I am beginning to think that each of have such unique chemistries that what works for one may not work for another. All we can do is try.

I am a librarian and have gone back to work. The dry mouth is a problems when talking with patrons. I am not allowed to have a bottle of water at the public service desk, so must excuse myself periodically to get a sip of liquid.

I was disheartened to read that the one commenter still has problems after 25 years. Oh, for the hope of getting the salivary glands working again. Christine

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• By PoodleMomma
• Posted May 19, 2009 at 9:22 pm
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You may have something called Sjogren's Syndrome, which is an autoimmune disease. Google it and see if it parallels any of your clinical picture. Good luck!

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• By denimite
• Posted May 20, 2009 at 9:48 am
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Hey all,
I too have not saliva left after radiation therapy for throat cancer, I drink lots of aloe juice which helps to coat the throat and heal tissues. None of the fake saliva stuff works for me at all, I have given up on that, I chew lots of sugarless gum, I use a toothpaste made aloe, and a mouthwash called the Natural dentist to help promote the good bacteria in my mouth, trying to save my teeth for as along as I can.
I just wanted to comment on the white sugar, you must get it out of your diet, natural sugar that is in fruit is good for you, in every way, it is full of vitamins and the right bacteria you need in your body, I would suggest getting this mouthwash I mentioned above, and I get it at the health food store, some food stores and drug stores carry it also, it helps heal lots of mouth sores, and also the aloe juice, it is flavored with fruit, and quite enjoyable, I am not one to like bad tasting stuff, and I like this, it has helped alot, also use a humidifier any time you can, I am getting one doctor ordered to sleep with at nite that comes with a mask, as I have the worst trouble with dry throat, I lose my voice from no moisture in my throat, good luck, and you are right, they never tell us the aftereffects of the treatment, living with no salivia is the worst to me. I refused treatment when I read of this side effect, but they told me it would not happen to me, cause they were radiating throat not mouth, they were wrong of course, now I must deal with it, but do not like it one bit, especially since it is effecting my teeth. Stay well!
denimite@verizon.net

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• By salivamouth
• Posted June 7, 2009 at 2:07 pm
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Cristine7, I read your post, and it sounds like you have what I have Base of the tongue, 1 lymph node and the tonsils. They told me I had stage 1 squamous cell carcinoma and that I had an 80% recovery chance. Even though, I'm a little nervous - I go back to get my pet / mri in about a week - although I know they say 5 years is the true test. I worry, but I try to stay focused on 1 day at a time. It's only been 2 weeks since my last radiation and I was wondering - do the sores in the mouth and the tongue go away - everyone says eat popsickles, but it hurts on the tongue - any words of incouragement?

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