Hi, everyone
As I wrote earlier, my sister is having EDAP (etoposide, dexamethasone, cytarabine (Ara-C),cisplatin (Platinol)) chemotherapy because of aggressive cutaneous plasmacytomas that she developed recently. Her worst side effect at the moment is severe systemic mucositis. It affects her mouth, esophagus, GI tract, as well as vulva, etc.
We found a lot of helpful information about the ways to prevent or treat mucositis in the mouth, but maybe you have some advice or had experience of treating other areas. It is really painful, especially the esophagus (causes pain and cough - lung / respiratory problems have been ruled out for now) and vulva / vagina. Doctors have not prescribed anything.
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Gala - Name: Gala
- Who do you know with myeloma?: sister, LgA-k
- When were you/they diagnosed?: December 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 48
Re: Mucositis from chemotherapy for multiple myeloma
Mucositis is the direct effect of chemotherapy on cells that protect the surface of our digestive tract. Those cells have a short life span, so they are constantly replicating, much like cancer cells. Since traditional chemotherapy affects mostly cells that are rapidly duplicating, the digestive tract is affected the most.
The severity and duration of the mucositis is an effect of the drugs that were given and their dose. In general the effects won't last more than 1-2 weeks and will improve and resolve with time.
Unfortunately there is no specific treatment for it, other than time. There are several types of mouth washes that help patients maintain mouth hygiene while affected by mucositis, and can provide some relief on the pain ("magic mouth wash", etc). Pain medication is also often required.
For some drugs, there chewing of ice chips during the chemotherapy infusion ("cryotherapy") may reduce the subsequent mucositis by preventing the drugs from affecting the cells in the inner surface of mouth and throat.
The severity and duration of the mucositis is an effect of the drugs that were given and their dose. In general the effects won't last more than 1-2 weeks and will improve and resolve with time.
Unfortunately there is no specific treatment for it, other than time. There are several types of mouth washes that help patients maintain mouth hygiene while affected by mucositis, and can provide some relief on the pain ("magic mouth wash", etc). Pain medication is also often required.
For some drugs, there chewing of ice chips during the chemotherapy infusion ("cryotherapy") may reduce the subsequent mucositis by preventing the drugs from affecting the cells in the inner surface of mouth and throat.
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Dr. Luciano Costa - Name: Luciano Costa, M.D., Ph.D.
Beacon Medical Advisor
Re: Mucositis from chemotherapy for multiple myeloma
Dr. Costa,
Thank you for your reply. My sister's mouth is now better, because of the treatment. However, the other areas are still quite painful.
The focus is prevention of infection and we believe there is not much that can be done to improve the symptoms. Hopefully, they will resolve eventually.
Thank you for your reply. My sister's mouth is now better, because of the treatment. However, the other areas are still quite painful.
The focus is prevention of infection and we believe there is not much that can be done to improve the symptoms. Hopefully, they will resolve eventually.
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Gala - Name: Gala
- Who do you know with myeloma?: sister, LgA-k
- When were you/they diagnosed?: December 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 48
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