Doug has had a terrible problem with thrush or yeast in his mouth since radiation and chemo last summer and though they have been treating it with fluconazole for months and months, it really isn't better and while I notice everyone else has been complaining of dry-mouth, he has so many secretions! Does anyone have any suggestions?

This is a problem often under-rated by specialists. Does he have dentures or dental bridges?

My experience with this is that it's persistent and difficult to control. Flucanazole is good, but he also needs to use a regular mouthwash of chlorhexidine, and a fungicide oral ointment like Miconazole (sold in some countries as Daktarin).

Dr Joshi posted this recommendation a few months back:

>You could try this homemade mouthwash from the NIDCR website:
>"Rinse your mouth several times a day with a solution of 1/4 teaspoon baking soda and 1/8 teaspoon salt in one cup of warm >water. Follow with a plain water rinse."

If he has any dental prosthetics he'll want to sterilise them daily, either by soaking them in a dilute bleach (ask your dentist about this) or microwaving them for one minute at 850 Watts on three separate occasions (again, ask your dental specialist about this). Microwaving the prosthetics kills the candida for some weeks or even months. But you need to be careful that it doesn't melt the prosthesis!

Candida albicans is persistent and difficult. I've found that a rigorous programme of mouthwashing and denture soaking, together with the use of Daktarin, has worked wonders for me. I've also found that there are plenty of quack merchants out there peddling nonsense and snake oil at high prices. Rather press the medical team, who tend to take the view that the cancer is gone so anything else is a side effect of little importance. It's taken me five years to get to the point where I feel that the mnouth thrush is coming under control - because my excellent team felt they had done what they set out to do, I was still alive so why was I still complaining?

To which my answer was, and is, that yes I'm still alive, and my mouth hurts like hell, and I want to know how to make it better, and being alive make me able to complain even more loudly than if I wasn't.

Philip,

Thank you for the information. Luckily, he doesn't have any dentures or anything like that so that is one less thing to worry about.

You are absolutely correct about the doctors considering this a minor inconvenience. Believe me, I have been a total pest with all of his doctors about any and all of his treatments (or lack thereof) to the point where I can almost hear them cringe when they recognize my voice on the phone! I sometimes think they just don't understand that "quality of life" is still important. One surgeon gave us a whole, "Look Buddy you had stage 4 cancer" speech...very nasty and we don't see him anymore! Last time, for the thrush, they gave him some kind of lozenges to suck on...didn't seem to help except Doug said they tasted terrible. I will definetely give that mouth rinse a try. You have been a great help! Much thanks!

Miss Belle...

There have been lots of previous postings on the subject of thrush since the inception of this website that will likely prove helpful to you for Doug. Just click on the "Find" tab (top screen) and type in the word "thrush". A big 'ole Thrush Encyclopedia will come up Happy reading!

Glad to hear you ditched the retarded surgeon who gave Doug the "Well, what do you expect" crap! I so agree with you that some medical people fail to understand the importance of the QUALITY of our human existance.

You just keep right on being your "pesky" little self with those docs... More power to you!!!!! Doug is just so LUCKY, LUCKY to have you advocating for him. Stay the strong force that you most certainly are, my friend!!

From my heart,

Melanie

Hello Belle

See my post about Thrush for more information about it.

To clear thick saliva from the back of the throat, try gargling with warm water. A pinch of salt (1/8tsp) and two pinches of baking soda (1/4tsp) in a glass of water helps thin the saliva). You will find the discussion on mucus help (tenacious phlegm/saliva) useful, some members have found Mucodyne helpful.

Best wishes
Vinod

Thanks Everyone! yesterday was a long, long day with Doug's surgery and I am feeling...I don't know...tired and sad I guess...but I will get him started on these "recipes" ASAP! I really wish I had a magic wand and could make it all better for everyone!