Looking for info on thrush while on Herceptin

laurie2007 · 09-17-2008, 11:47 AM

I have been on Navelbine and Herceptin since January as treatment for Stage !V breast cancer with mets in lungs and bones. They took me off Navelbine about five weeks ago but I've continued with weekly Herceptin. Two or three days ago I noticed canker sores in my mouth and the nurse said it was thrush. She gave me a mouth rinse to use four times a day. Has anyone had experience with that? I understand it could be from the low white blood cells but wonder why it happened now when my WBSs are higher without the Navelbine. How long does it last? Does the treatment work well and quickly? Kind of hard to eat. Any feedback would be welcome!

gracie's mom · 09-17-2008, 02:17 PM

Hi-I don't know if this will help. I have not had alot of sores (on Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin). My Dr. prescribed a rinse called MD Anderson- my sister, a paharmacist, makes it up and would have to be made up always , anywhere. If I feel a sore coming on I take it last thing at nite-swish and then swallow. So far, luckily my mouth has been better in the am and I have not yet had to do the 4x a day. I do not drink anything after I take it. Hope this helps and I wish you the best. I did also notice to stay away from acidy foods when I start getting one.

madubois63 · 09-17-2008, 04:04 PM

I believe the mouthwash has different names depending on where your at. We call it "magic mouthwash." It is a wonderful thing. Call your oncs office and ask them to call in a prescription for you ASAP. Avoid pickled anything, hot food/drinks, citrus and spicy foods. Thrush is a yeast infection of the mouth. Eat yogurt and you may want to take acidophiles supplements to get your system back on track.

BethC · 09-17-2008, 06:46 PM

Thrush is a total drag. I had a terrible yeast infection on my nipples when I was nursing and the only thing that got rid of it (finally) was an oral medicine called Diflucan. I had to take it for a long time to get rid of the yeast, like 2 or 3 weeks. I was so happy it worked. Evidently it is hard to get rid of yeast.

Good luck and I hope you find some relief.
love,
Beth

Soccermom2006 · 09-17-2008, 07:21 PM

There are anti fungal lozenges that will help as they dissolve in your mouth...the name is Clotrimazole..

http://www.drugs.com/pro/clotrimazole-lozenges.html

I used them and was thrilled with the result,

You can take a systemic like Diflucan with it..(all with your Docs approval )

Hugs,marcia

grandma2 · 09-17-2008, 08:21 PM

i had thrush several times not during chemo but years ago when i was on high steroids for lupus. it is truly gross. i was given a rx for diflucan as well as prescription mouthwash that tasted horrible and you had to swish it around and then swallow it. i just could not do that but the thrush did go away.

flynny · 09-18-2008, 06:01 AM

Hi Laurie,

I have had thrush off and on throughout my treatments and now that I finished with Taxol (just last week) I got it again. I take Nystatin (a swish and/or swallow depending upon if it is in your throat hurts too 4x/day). It can definitely affect your taste buds... food doesn't taste great and same with liquids. The other thing that someone else said "magic mouth wash" consists of lidocaine/mylanta/benadryl. It pretty much numbs your entire mouth. This is great for mouth soars, but only for a short period of time. I also purchased an all natural product at the health food store for canker soars. I can't remember the name. Good luck