Patient Education Cancer Care | Page 23

• Bloody stools • Weakness or fatigue If you have other questions about diarrhea or how to control it, talk to your doctor, nurse, or dietitian. • Limit milk and milk products to no more than 2 cups per day or use lactose-free milk and milk products. • Eat foods high in salt (sodium) such as broths, soups, sports drinks, crackers, and pretzels (unless your doctor has told you to limit your salt intake). • Also eat high-potassium foods such as fruit juices, potatoes without the skin, bananas, and canned apricots (unless your doctor has told you to avoid these foods). If you continue to have problems, talk to your doctor about medications to help control diarrhea. Take only the anti- diarrhea medicine that your doctor has approved or prescribed for you. Mouth Sores Mouth sores are red or white painful patches that may appear in the mouth and the throat as a result of some chemotherapy or radiation therapy to the head and neck or esophagus region. They can appear about 1 to 2 weeks after getting certain types of chemotherapy. Other causes may be poor mouth care, oxygen therapy, alcohol or tobacco, and not enough vitamins or a lack of protein in the diet. Sores in the mouth may start by looking red, shiny, and painful and progress to small white ulcers. These can be on the gums or on or under the tongue. You may notice a white or yellow fi lm on the tongue and increased mucus in the mouth. Mouth sores can take up to 2 to 4 weeks to heal, so it is very important that you report these to your doctor or nurse as soon as they are found. They can be very painful and lead to prob