Chemotherapy -= mouth ulcers

[kittylitter7]

My mum has just had an operation to remove a malignant tumor from her stomach. They think they got all of it out but as a precaution she is now undergoing a 12 week course of chemothrapy Fluorouracil (5FU) and will undergo 5 weeks of radiotherapy in the middle of the 12 weeks.
She has been on the Fluorouracil for 10 days and is suffering from the worst mouth ulcers I have ever seen in my life. She has been using Difflam oral rinse for the last few days which is not helping. We have just spent the whole day in casualty as she cannot eat anything except soup. The doctor (who had no idea how to deal with this situation) recommended a cream called Adcortyl which my mum cannot use as she is diabetic (tablet controlled). Please can anyone recommend a treatment for the ulcers please? It's so horrible to see my lovely mum going through this.

[Carakeel]

kittylitter7, please give your mother my best wishes and tell her to hang in there. Many people do beat cancer and it is never easy. I fought a long battle against cancer myself, so can understand how hard life for her is right now. I won my battle against all odds, so try to be positive. As for her mouth ulcers, please be careful! Ask her oncologist about treatment for the mouth ulcers. Just getting something over the counter that is recommended my others who have had the problem, can be a dangerous thing to do, as what they recommend my not be safe in conjunction with the kind of chemo she is having. I wish her and you all the best.

[bobtheturkey]

cant help you with your question but all the best to your mum and you

[kazza12345]

souluble paracetamol will help witht the pain. For future courses, she may find it useful to start using a mouthwah before problems happen - even something simple like salt water would be good, 4 times a day (after meals) Hospitals can prescribe things like cocaine mouthwashes for people in lots of pain (depending on their policies) it will be best to contact the unit where she had her chemo. Sometimes people have to stop the chemo if the side effects are intolerable. Does she have a site specific nurse at the hospital?

[spurslady]

HI my mum has also gone through the same thing, the only thing is they couldnt remove her tumor in her stomach because it was wrapped around a main artery. She suffered shocking ulcers too a know side effect from the chemo. I agree with Carakeel get in contact with her consultant or if you are registered with a Macmillan nurse they are also a great help. My mum found that they were almost always available for advice and support, when sometimes the consultants who are very busy cant get back to you as quickly as you would like.

I wish you and your mum all the best and hope she wins her battle.

My mum is facing a big struggle as it doesnt seem to want to go but hopefully she will win.

[raysparx1]

Hi Kittylitter7,

So sorry to hear about your mum,the only thing I can think you could try is, bonjela or the adult version anbesol,do hope she is feeling better soon, I have been through this with my wife,and I wish you loads of luck and love, Ray

[kazza12345]

there is a drug called clairgel that you have to get on prescription ... it kind of coats the mouth over the ulcers, making it possible for people to eat/drink

[ermintrude35]

..when my mum was having chemo , she had quite bad mouth ulcers, one of the nurses recomended eating fresh pineapple or drinking pineapple juice, it did help ....

[kittylitter7]

Thank you everyone for your kind words and advice. Unfortunately nothing has helped so far so we're trying to stay strong and positive. It's got so bad they've taken her off the chemo but she's still poorly.
Hopefully she'll get back to normal soon.