Thrush.

Hi Frank29 

Thanks for getting in touch. My name’s Louise, one of the Cancer Information Nurse Specialists on the Macmillan Support Line.

Different things can cause a sore mouth, including thrush. A sore mouth may be a sign of infection. If an infection is left untreated, it can lead to sepsis which can be life-threatening.

As we don't have access to your medical records here on the support line we would always recommend that you contact your healthcare team with any changes or concerns. We would suggest phoning your GP or NHS 111 straight away for assessment.

Cancer treatments such as radiotherapy can cause mouth problems. Radiotherapy causes lack of saliva because it damages the salivary glands. Sometimes these changes can be permanent, however there are different ways to manage changes in saliva to make things easier.

Your healthcare team is also there to answer questions and talk things through. They can offer support and refer you to other services, for example a speech and language therapist (SALT) who can help with managing a lack of saliva.

You can contact your consultant or clinical nurse specialist (CNS) with any questions or concerns. They can be reached via the medical secretaries, who can be contacted via the main hospital number (switchboard). 

Sometimes it can help to share experiences with others in a similar situation. I can see you have joined a few groups here on our online community. These can be a great way to share tips for managing side-effects of cancer treatment. You can also find support in your area.

It might also help to talk to us. One of our nurses would be happy to talk things through.

Best wishes

Louise

Cancer Information Nurse Specialist

You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or email us. 

Ref: LR/CF