Use a very soft toothbrush during chemotherapy. If you need to stop brushing, a chlorhexidine-based mouthwash will help keep your teeth clean. Radiotherapy can affect white blood cells, skin cells and the lining of your mouth. These effects are often temporary but can persist.
The most appropriate time to schedule dental treatment during chemotherapy is after patients' blood counts have recovered, usually just prior to their next scheduled round or course of chemotherapy.
To help prevent dental caries, a prescription-level fluoride toothpaste is a great recommendation, such as Colgate PreviDent 5000 Dry Mouth.
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy may cause changes in the lining of the mouth and the salivary glands, which make saliva. This can upset the healthy balance of bacteria. These changes may lead to mouth sores, infections, and tooth decay.
For most people the side effects were worst in the first few days after treatment, then they gradually felt better until the next treatment. Some said the effects were worse with each successive treatment. Most side effects don't persist and disappear within a few weeks after the end of treatment.
Although chemo effectively kills cancer cells, it may also harm or kill healthy cells. If the chemotherapy medicines harm cells in your mouth such as your teeth, gums, or saliva glands, side effects can include: Painful teeth or gums. Loose teeth in children. Difficulty swallowing, also known as dysphagia.
Being gentle with your hair reduces psychological distress and minimizes breakage and loss from too much brushing, pulling, or styling of the hair. You can shampoo and frequently condition if you prefer, but washing the hair once or twice per week is generally enough. 5 Use a wide-toothed comb when brushing.
Chemotherapy may affect tooth enamel and increase the risk of long-term dental problems. High doses of radiation therapy to the head and neck area may change tooth development. It can also cause gum disease and lower saliva production, causing a dry mouth. Steroid medications may increase the risk of eye problems.
Cancer patients who have undergone chemotherapy or a radiation treatment may also notice their teeth changing from white to a brownish or yellowish color. Medications such as antibiotics can also affect the color of your teeth and is more prevalent in younger kids.
Avoid acidic, spicy, salty, coarse, and dry foods. Try drinking through a straw to help avoid irritating your mouth sores. Other strategies undergoing further study using clinical trials include the use of cryotherapy (the use of cold) or low level laser therapy.
Choose soft, bland foods.
Try breakfast foods like instant oatmeal, grits, pancakes, waffles, and cold cereal that has been softened in milk. Pick side dishes like cottage or ricotta cheese, macaroni and cheese, mashed white or sweet potatoes, and rice or risotto.
Allow at least 14 days of healing for any oral • surgical procedures. Conduct prosthetic surgery before treatment, since • elective surgical procedures are contraindicated on irradiated bone.
Short, planned delays in chemotherapy for good-risk GCT patients (less than or equal to 7 days per cycle) appear to be acceptable since they may prevent serious toxicity in this curable patient population. Delays of longer than 7 days are strongly discouraged except in extraordinary life-threatening circumstances.
Stay hydrated
Keep a water bottle on hand and sip frequently throughout the day. Add a squeeze of lemon or other citrus to make your water more palatable. Sip on drinks at the temperature that appeals to you most (for example, warm beverages such as tea or hot water with lemon may be more soothing).
Whether it's due to pain from a growing tumor, swallowing difficulties caused by radiation therapy, or the nausea, loss of appetite or mouth sores that are sometimes caused by chemotherapy, involuntary weight loss is a serious side effect of cancer and its treatment for many patients.
Some chemotherapy drugs, targeted cancer drugs or immunotherapy drugs can make your eyes very dry and sore. They might feel gritty, as though there is something in your eye. This is because the drugs cause a reaction on the inside of your eyelids. Or you may not be making enough tears.
Chemotherapy can cause fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, bowel issues such as constipation or diarrhoea, hair loss, mouth sores, skin and nail problems.
One week post-chemo! "They" say that's one of the toughest weeks. The one right after chemo, especially your first round. It's a week of figuring out how your body will respond after the infusions, and it's different for every person.
Sickness caused by chemotherapy can start within a couple of hours of starting your treatment and only last a day or so. Or it can come on more than 24 hours after the start of treatment. This is called delayed onset nausea and vomiting and usually lasts about a week.
The effects of chemo are cumulative. They get worse with each cycle. My doctors warned me: Each infusion will get harder. Each cycle, expect to feel weaker.