What are the signs and symptoms of mouth sores?
Mouth sores commonly occur 3 to 10 days after your treatment with chemotherapy. You may experience a burning sensation followed by ulcers, and your mouth may appear red (inflammation) with sores (ulcerations). There may be associated discomfort and pain. Mouth sores can make chewing and swallowing difficult, interfering with your nutrition and food intake and leading to weight loss. Your speech may also be affected because of the soreness. Mouth sores may make you more susceptible to bacterial, fungal, or viral infections in the mouth. Ultimately, mouth sores can become severe enough that your dosage must be reduced or your treatment delayed to allow your mouth to heal. Although mouth sores can occur with any treatment for cancer, mucositis is more severe if you are treated with the following: • Stem cell transplants • Radiation for head and neck cancer • Combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy • High-dose treatment • Frequent dosing schedules, such as weekly chemotherapy The techn
