During cancer treatment, patients face numerous challenges beyond the disease itself. One lesser-known but painful side effect of cancer treatment is the ‘chemo mouth,’ a condition that can cause mouth sores, inflammation, and discomfort, making it difficult to eat, drink, or even speak.
What is chemo mouth?
In people battling cancer, mouth sores are very common. Mucositis is a condition where your mouth or gut is sore and inflamed. Oral mucositis is called the chemo mouth. A common side effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, mucositis can be painful. In most people, this condition usually gets better a few weeks after finishing cancer treatment, according to NHS.
Oral mucositis
Oral mucositis affects your mouth. The symptoms usually begin around a week after starting chemotherapy, or about 2 weeks after starting radiotherapy.
Symptoms
- dry mouth
- a sore mouth, which can make eating and drinking painful
- mouth ulcers
- bad breath
- a fungal mouth infection (oral thrush)
The severity of the symptoms depends on the type of treatment you’re having.
Mucositis of gut
The mucositis also affects the gut and the symptoms are different. The symptoms of mucositis in your gut usually begin around 2 weeks after starting chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
Symptoms
- diarrhoea
- sores (ulcers) around your bottom
- bleeding from your gut (you may have blood in your poo)
- pain when swallowing
- constipation
- stomach cramps and bloating
If you are on cancer treatment and experience any of these symptoms it is important that you talk to your doctor about it. They can offer you treatment to ease these symptoms.
Here are a few things that can help ease mucositis.
- Use a soft toothbrush and brush at least twice a day. Use floss once a day if you can
- Use warm water, salt water, or mild alcohol-free mouthwash to rinse your mouth.
- Chew sugar-free gum or suck ice cubes, crushed ice or ice lollies if your mouth is dry
- Eat soft, moist foods, like soup, jelly or soft fruit
- To prevent your lips from getting dry use lip balm
- Leave out dentures if you wear them, and keep them clean and moist even when you’re not wearing them
- Drink plenty of water, eat less fibre, and take diarrhoea medicine as advised by a doctor or pharmacist (if you have diarrhoea)
