Small Town Monthly

Posted on Monday, January 10, 2011 by admin in Health |

The underlying cause of canker sores is not fully understood by doctors, but there are circumstances in which you can develop these mouth sores simply by exposure to toxins, allergens and even chemotherapy. There are many instances in which individuals deal with chemotherapy and do not have any type of mouth sore. However, some people experience this frequently. If you are undergoing a treatment for cancer, canker sores may be the least of your concerns. However, the pain and discomfort associated with these sores can make your experience even worse.

How Chemotherapy Causes Canker Sores

Chemotherapy can cause canker sores within the mouth. Unlike cold sores which are from a virus, canker sores are simply lesions on the inside of the mouth that can occur on the soft tissues of the mouth, the gums and the tongue. One of the things that can cause them is chemo. Chemo that is directed at the neck and at the mouth is most likely the cause of the canker sores you have developed, especially if you did not have any previous canker sore concerns prior to that treatment. Here is a look at what happens.

• Chemotherapy is used to treat your cancer.
• To do so, your doctor directs the chemotherapy at the specific area of the cancer; in this case it is usually in the neck and head region.
• The chemo is designed to kill all rapidly growing cells, including the cancer. In many cases, it will also damage the cells in the mouth, even if those cells are healthy.
• This causes sores to develop in the mouth. These sores are commonly called canker sores.

It is less common for these mouth sores to be related to your chemotherapy than it is for them to be related to injuries or food illnesses. If you have just had chemo within the last two to three weeks, then the development of canker sores within that period may be due to the chemo treatment. Otherwise, explore the other causes of canker sores.

Although chemotherapy can cause canker sores, this does not mean that there are no treatments. Discuss these painful lesions on your mouth with your doctor. Determine what the underlying cause is and what can be done to prevent them especially if you are having additional chemo treatments. In some cases, your doctor may wish to change the chemo application to reduce these sores, since the canker sores can develop into infections.