Hi,
I have just completed week 2 of 6 weeks of CRT.
My tongue is deeply ulcerated as is the left side of my mouth and throat. Eating is a chore anyway due to removal of gums, and palate. My jaw opening is very small too. I had flap reconstruction for the palate and cheek.
I am relying on supplements provided by the hospital and they have agreed I can use these solely at the moment.
My question is, how long are these ulcers likely to last? Do they heal during the duration of RT? It feels very daunting to have these for the next month or so.
I am using salt and bicarb mouth washes regularly, I have been given a prescription for something to coat the ulcers but I can't get this for another 24 hours.
Thank you for any help you can offer.
Alison
Hi Alison, so sorry to read how uncomfortable you are. Have you a feeding g tube? If you have use it. It will save you a lot of pain and angst.
My question is, how long are these ulcers likely to last? Do they heal during the duration of RT? It feels very daunting to have these for the next month or so.
RT ulcers are a completely different beast from normal mouth ulcers and take a long time to heal. Mine lasted for a good few months after treatment end though they were much less painful by week 12 and I could eat well by then. In the meantime I really couldn't be done with fighting the inevitable and used my NG tube for meds and food from week 4 of RT to around 8 weeks post.
For ulcers during treatment I found Gelclair and Difflam helpful but the best was morphine. I took long acting morphine twice daily with oramorph every four hours alternated with paracetamol.
Keeping the mouth clean is paramount and your salt/bicarb should serve you well. It;'s not easy but doable.
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
