Mouth sores, also known as oral lesions, mucositis, or stomatitis, are a common side effect of breast cancer treatments, particularly chemotherapy and certain medications. Here are some key points:

Causes
- Chemotherapy Drugs: Several chemotherapies used to treat breast cancer can cause mouth sores, including:
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Mouth sores, also known as oral lesions, mucositis, or stomatitis, are a common side effect of breast cancer treatments, particularly chemotherapy and certain medications. Here are some key points:

Causes:
- Chemotherapy Drugs: Several chemotherapies used to treat breast cancer can cause mouth sores, including:
- Doxorubicin (Adriamycin)
- Docetaxel
- Paclitaxel (Taxol, Abraxane)
- Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan)
- 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU)
- Carboplatin (Paraplatin)
- Everolimus (Afinitor, Zortress)
- Exemestane

Timing:
- Mouth sores typically develop around five to ten days after beginning chemotherapy.

Symptoms:
- Red, swollen sores that may look like ulcers.
- Painful oral lesions that may appear on the inner cheek, tongue, or gums.

Complications:
- Oral yeast infections, such as thrush, can develop and worsen the sores. Thrush appears as white patches in the mouth.
- Severe oral sores may require temporarily stopping or lowering the chemotherapy dose, which can affect the treatment prognosis.

Management Tips:
- Magic Mouthwash: A prescription-strength mouthwash containing a mixture of medications to help decrease pain.
- Salt Water Gargle: Mix 1/2 teaspoon of salt with 8 ounces of warm water, gargle for 30 seconds, and spit it out to reduce inflammation and provide temporary relief.

Statistics:
- About 40% of people undergoing any type of chemotherapy experience mouth sores.
- 24% of breast cancer survivors had at least one oral lesion, with longer use of tamoxifen, dry mouth, and previous radiation therapy being associated factors.

Additional Tips:
- Avoid over-the-counter mouthwashes that contain alcohol, as they can be drying and exacerbate the condition.

For more detailed information, you can refer to the resources provided in the knowledge base.

 This AI-generated response comes from MyBCTeam and other selected sources. It is not a substitute for medical advice. Always ask your doctor about specific health concerns.

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