How do you manage mouth sores from Erbitux and chemo treatment?

Mouth sores are unfortunately a common and challenging side effect that many people experience during treatment with Erbitux and chemotherapy. There are several strategies that members of this community have shared for managing the pain and discomfort, including special mouth rinses, numbing gels, and adjusting diet to softer foods that are easier to tolerate. It would be helpful to discuss additional pain management options with the care team, as they may have other medications or treatments that could provide more relief than what's currently being used.

There is a mouthwash called “Magic mouthwash “ that is very helpful but i think it has to be prescribed?

Yup, you're right about Magic Mouthwash -- 2 of my nurse friends suggested the same!. Lidocaine, Benadryl, And Maalox. For some reason, my oncologist won't prescribe it for me. Rather, he's ordered "viscous" lidocaine (ick, but works) and dexamethazone tablets. I've got to give it a little bit more time to heal, he encouraged. So, that's what I'll do. On the one gand, these sores hurt! On the other, the side effect means the meds are working!

Mouth sores take the pleasure out of eating. I’m using the “magic mouth wash” can’t say it works any better than the warm water salt, baking soda concoction I was using. I’ve found if I cut what I’m trying to eat into really small pieces and place them on the center of my tongue let saliva accumulate and chew. I can eat a few things but I eat very slowly. The corners of my mouth are the worst they spread onto my face. I use essential oils to keep it in check. Good Luck🍀

I hear ya, Sharon! The corners of my mouth hurt so much. I've been doing the warm water - salt - baking soda gargle, too & agree that it's just as good as anything else. I try to use it a few times a day. Eating "regular" food is tough, still - i dropped a few pounds, which I'd usually celebrate, but not in this circumstance. So, I've been drinking healthy protein smoothies, eating hydration popsicles, and warm bone broth when i can. And so it goes -- i do what i need to do, as I'm sure we all do. Keep us posted, with any new "tricks", and just about the how you're doing. I'll do the same. The community feeling helps me e a lot! Keep at it ! 👟👟❤️

Unfortunately Alison it does not mean that anything is working because of bad side effects. Regretfully you can have bad side effects and the medication not be doing you any good at all

Hi James -- I'm trying really hard to maintain a hopeful perspective, and have been pretty fortunate thus far.. I discuss all this stuff with my incredible team of physicians, who I push hard to be very straightforward with me. It's their words that I process & discuss seriously, positive or otherwise. I appreciate you sharing your views and wish you all good things.