Blisters after Radiation for Throat Cancer

	Asked by lynniepie2 (Male ) on Sat 19, Apr 2008 03:50pm :
	My 53 year old sister just finished radiation for throat cancer. She is now getting little blisters in her mouth that she says are as painful as during the treatments. She said they look like caviar. The doctor's are all claiming she need to see the other one. Do you know what she can do. She was hopeful and now is very frustrated.
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	Answer by Dr Paul S, MD (oncologist) on Sat 19, Apr 2008 07:54pm: Hi there. First of all I would like to congratulate your sister for finishing the radiation courses as only about 60-70% of patients do so due to the side effects. The blisters that your sister are experiencing maybe a side effect of the radiation. As radiation kills microscopic cancer cells which are actively dividing, it also affects some normal dividing cells such as those lining our mouth (mucosal cells). When this happens one get ulcers or blisters just like the ones your sister has. These would usually heal with time (about 1-2 weeks) though there are some remedies to accelerate the healing and minimize the pain. Gargles and mouth treatments like Mycostatin can be given 2-3x daily. This prevents secondary fungal infection and can decrease the pain. A suspension of AlMgOH, like the one used for stomach ulcers can also be taken (linger in the mouth for a few seconds and swallow). Sucralfate tablets can also be mixed with water and taken the same way as AlMgOH 2-3x a day. Lozenges with Lidocaine (a local anesthetic) can also be taken to minimize the pain. However, I suggest you discuss these treatments with your doctor first before applying them. Also, be sure to report any changes in the blisters to your physician, and if these persist for more than 2 weeks. Sometimes these blisters can develop into severe infections. Regards and God bless. Thank you for using our service.  If you are satisfied with the answer or if you want a detailed answer for your question, please make a donation and request for further clarifications.  Our oncologists will provide an elaborate answer for your clarification.   Please make a donation by clicking the button below. You may donate using funds from your PayPal account or Credit Card. Please rate my answer (select the stars below, no need to log in.)
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