I’m new to this site. Just wondered if anyone has had problems with their tongue! The tip of my tongue feels as if I have burnt it on hot food,it’s been like this for about 4-5 weeks. My oncologist has examined it and found no ulceration and has suggested I have iron and vitamin B12 levels checked out. I’m on Femara and have been taking Alendronic Acid/Risedronate on and off (I say on and off because I am suffering side effects such as acid reflux); I have also been taking Omeprazole for the acid reflux; I wonder if any of these drugs are causing it or is it something else. Any ideas or similar experiences?
I’m a diet bore and believe that the state of the tongue is indicative of the state of the rest of the body, and importantly the liver.
I had the terrible sore tongue on TAX, but a massive change in my diet, which was anti-cancer, but primarily to look after my liver and survive chemo, made a marked difference to my tongue.
Thanks, Gretchen, I thought I had a really good diet already, was there anything in particular you did, and how long did it last? Am really grateful for your reply.
I think your oncologist is right - it does sound like anaemia and iron tablets and vit b12 should help. The tongue gets really sore and red with anaemia and also you may have ulcers in the mouth too. Should clear up quickly with tablets if that’s what it is.
I am so glad that you have started this post because I have been going out of my mind about exactly the same problem and was about to accept that it is something that I was going to have to accept.
I started on Femara May 2009, no problems, slight aches and pains. Then last December I went down with a bad cold, followed by a chest infection, followed by a sickness bug where I had to go to hospital as I was so dehydrated(I don’t ususally get this ill)
After this right up to present I have constant sores in my mouth, on my lower lip,my lips feel like they are burning as well as my tongue. I have not been able to wear lipstick since the beginning of the year, my top lip inside is very dry.
I have tried all sorts of things, had several visits to doctors, 2 lots of antibiotics(could be the reason),oral thrush treatment, vaseline, rescue remedy cream(thought it might be stress), vitamins especially Vit B Complex.
The results of blood tests showed up nothing.
I thought it might be candida which the treatment seems to be give up/cutdown on sugar and wheat(can’t keep that up though although it does improve slightly)but this could be what it is.
I eat quite healthily but I have had visitors to stay last week and my diet was awful and my mouth is really bad at the moment. Yesterday it looked like small cuts inside my mouth but as I was very careful what I ate yesterday it has improved today.
I think that I will go down route that I might be anaemic although I do eat a balanced diet.
If anyone can suggest anything or have had similiar I would be really grateful
Hi Hazel, thanks very much for your post; your description sounds so much like my experience ie burning sensation, inside of top lip is dry. I started on Femara at the end of April this year. I went to the Health Food shop yesterday to get some vitamin B complex while waiting for the blood test results, the advisor there also gave me some probiotics as she said that often mouth problems are a result of stomach problems. I’ve only taken 2 so can’t report back any findings yet. I’ll let you know about my blood test results at the end of the week. I have been doing a bit of reading and found that Vit B2, vit B12 and iron dificiencies can cause a sore tongue. Are you on a bisphonsphonate too as I wondered whether that had anything to do with it? It’s driving me mad!
No, I am only on Femara. I take Yalkult every morning which should help. Today because I ate quite healthily yesterday and kept away from sugary stuff my mouth is a lot better. I have tried upping my water intake the last few days, my mouth is always dry.
If it is down to Femara I will live with it but although my GP is excellent he hasn’t really come up with any suggestions. I have had blood tests and they showed nothing up.
Your blood tests might reveal something that can be easily dealt with so please let us know.
Hazel, if your mouth problem persists and you are definitely not anaemic, I would ask your doctor/dentist to refer you to your nearest oral medicine department at a hospital. There are a lot of conditions in the mouth which can manifest as a result of immunological problems as well as the usual viral. Side effects of anaemia in the mouth normally present as a red tongue which feels as though its burning. Yours sounds different with ulcerations so could be something along the lines of lichen planus which affects women usually (of a certain age!). Its not serious, just a nuisance in most cases but should be diagnosed properly. Unfortunately GP’s are really not good with oral conditions, so ask to be referred - the fact that you are having cancer related treatment should hurry up the referral.
Hi Cathy, would you say the same to me, as I have been suffering a sore tongue since the end of May - it feels as though it has been burnt - but no ulceration, I am being tested for iron and B12 deficiencies and still awaiting results. Thanks, Lizzylou
i have a very dry tongue which is quite sensitive to hot foods and always feels kinda burnt too.
i have biotene oral balance saliva replacement gel which i get on prescription from my GP… it is very effective and tastes nice too.
i am on tamoxifen and find it has quite drying out effects eg dry scalp, dry itchy skin, constipation, dry eyes and dry mouth… i dont think these are very common side effects but i seem to suffer from these side effects more so than hot flushes and night sweats that others seem to get… for me they are all manageable but irritating…;. just have to use my eye drops, mouth gel, aqueous cream, polytar shampoo and laxitives and im all sorted LOL.
Hi Ladies, I said I would report back on my blood test results for my ‘burning’ tongue: they are normal and I am not deficient in iron or vit B12. So, I am not sure what to think now. I will see my GP, bearing in mind Hazel’s findings and Cathy’s comments, and in the meantime try Lulu’s gel. Thanks, all, for your helpful postings, hope we all get ourselves sorted before too long!
I would definitely ask your Gp to refer you to oral medicine/oral surgery unless they can give you a definite diagnosis. It may be that whatever you have is harmless (which is the most likely scenario considering all the tests you have) and just a pain rather than serious, but it needs to be investigated so you can get treatment. As said before, GP’s are really quite poor at anything to do with the mouth whereas my colleagues in oral medicine are so clued up and are definitely worth the trouble going to see.
Hi Cathy, Thank you very much for following this through and for your advice so far. For various reasons, including a mix up over the B12 test, my GP appointment is not until Monday, but I am in two minds as to whether to go now as my tongue is so much better, almost completely better in fact. Would you advise still seeing my GP for a referral or would you now wait and see? Thanks.
Actually Cathy, as soon as I submitted that I decided that I am exaggerating: while it is getting better it is not almost completely better, shall I still go? Thanks. Lizzylou