Sore mouth

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My husband is in the latter stages of secondary liver and bone cancer.  His primary, throat cancer, was 7 years ago. Radio and chemo, left him without saliva and dry mouth.

He has had three different treatments all of which have not stopped the cancer progressing.

He has mucositis, inflamed mouth and thrush. He is on nystatin, sucroflate, and on his 5th day of fluconazole, which is not doing anything. He rinses with solvable aspirin and this gives him some reprieve for a very short time. Tonight I gave him a solution of baking soda and salt ans his reaction was like rinses with acid, he was in agony and his eyes were streaming. My husband has a high pain threshold and never moans or complains but this was awful.

He's hungry but can't eat because his mouth is so sore. This is cruel, I need to get help for him but keep getting blank faces.

I can give him more ooramorphbut ultimately this isn't helping him to eat.

Please help. Thanks in anticipation 

Sarah

  • Hi Sarah

    Thanks for getting in touch

    My name is Lindsey and I’m one of the Cancer Information Nurse Specialists on the Macmillan Support Line.

    I’m sorry to hear your husband is having such a difficult time with his mouth. It must be hard for him and hard for you to watch too. A sore mouth can be one of the late effects that happen after treatment for head and neck cancers.

    I was also sorry to read you keep getting blank faces. There are many professionals who can help with pain. Besides your husbands GP and hospital team, a pharmacist can give advice on medication. Boots Macmillan Information pharmacists are trained to give advice to people with cancer. There is an option to speak to a Boots pharmacist by a virtual appointment online.

    As your husband is in the later stages of his cancer, he may already have been referred to the Palliative Care Team. Besides giving support, they help to minimise any problems that the cancer is causing like pain. If he is not already known to the Palliative Care Team, his GP or hospital team can refer him for support.

    Fluconazole is usually given for a course of 7 to 10 days but can be used for longer. It also comes in liquid form if that is easier for your husband to manage.

     It may be helpful to try giving the soluble Asprin and a dose of Oramorph 30 minutes before a meal. Other things that may be of help are diluted Difflam mouth washes, warm saltwater rinse and Gelclair.

    As he is not eating well, ask either his GP or hospital team to refer him for help from a dietician. There are some foods that might be easier to tolerate with a sore mouth.

    I hope some of this is of help to you both. Please feel free to contact our Support Line if you wish to talk things through. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email.

     

    kind regards,

     

    Lindsey, Cancer Information Nurse Specialist.

     

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    Ref: Lrob/KHa