Mouth Sores
Mouth sores: Cancer-related causes and how to cope
Find out what you can do to lessen the pain of mouth sores and how you can minimize their effect on your ability to eat and enjoy food.
If you're about to begin cancer treatment, be aware that certain treatments can cause mouth sores (oral mucositis). Mouth sores can be painful and distressing. They can range from an inconvenience to a severe complication that may make you unable to continue your cancer treatment.
As you begin your cancer treatment, understand how your treatment can cause mouth sores and what steps you can take to help prevent this complication. If you're already experiencing mouth sores, find out what you and your doctor can do to minimize the pain. Understanding how to manage any side effects you experience can make you feel more in control of your body as you go through cancer treatment.
What are cancer-related mouth sores?
Cancer-related mouth sores are red sores or ulcers that form on the lining of the inside of your mouth (mucous membranes) or on your lips. The sores appear burn-like and can be painful, making it difficult to eat, talk, swallow and breathe. Sores can appear on any of the soft tissues of your lips or your mouth, including your gums, your tongue or the roof and floor of your mouth. Right-click here to download pictures. To help protect your privacy, Outlook prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.
How do cancer treatments cause mouth sores?
Chemotherapy and head or neck radiation can both cause mouth sores during cancer treatment. That's because these treatments are intended to stop rapidly growing cells — such as cancer cells. Some healthy cells in your body also divide and grow rapidly, including the cells that line the inside of your mouth. Unfortunately these healthy cells are also damaged by chemotherapy and radiation. Damage to the cells in your mouth makes it difficult for your mouth to heal itself and to fend off bacteria, leading to sores and infections.
Whether or not you experience mouth sores during cancer treatment depends on a number of factors, including your individual treatment. Some people are more likely to develop mouth sores, including:
- Younger people
- People with pre-existing gum disease
- People who don't brush and floss regularly
- People taking certain medications, including certain medications for depression and certain pain medications
Chemotherapy
Whether you experience mouth sores while undergoing chemotherapy depends on the type and dose of medication you receive, as well as how often you receive your treatment.
Mouth sores usually develop a few days after treatment begins and go away 10 to 14 days after treatment ends. Sores may begin as mild pain or burning in your mouth. White patches may form on the gums and soft tissues in your mouth. As the sores grow and lose their covering, they become large red lesions. The mouth sores usually reach their peak around the seventh day of chemotherapy treatment. In severe cases, mouth sores can bleed or cause extreme pain that makes it impossible to eat, drink or speak.
