Stomatitis: Inflammation of the mucous lining of any of the structures in the mouth, which may involve the cheeks, gums, tongue, lips, throat, and roof or floor of the mouth.
Mucositis is the painful inflammation & ulceration of the mucous membranes lining the digestive tract, usually as an adverse effect of chemotherapy and radiation treatment for cancer.
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Not everyone undergoing cancer treatment develops mouth sores.
Approximately 400,000 cancer patients develop mouth sores every year in the United States.
Sores are likely to appear within 10 days of starting some cancer treatments.
The ulcers and pain usually disappear within 3 weeks after treatment is completed.
(©CANCERcare 2005, www.cancercare.org)
Radiation to the head and neck or to the pelvis or abdomen causes mucositis in greater than 50% of the patients.
Mucositis can affect the entire alimentary track from the mouth to the rectum.
Stomatitis: mouth inflammation
Esophagitis: esophageal inflammation
Gastritis: stomach inflammation
Enteritis: Intestinal inflammation, especially the small intestine
Mucositis is a common side effect of high-dose chemotherapy or total body irradiation (TBI) given prior to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). An estimated 75-85% of HSCT recipients experience mucositis, of which stomatitis is the most common and debilitating side effect.
Mucositis Management:
* Avoid carbonated beverages, caffeine, alcohol and tobacco
* Avoid rough or coarse foods: raw fruits & vegetables, pretzels, popcorn, chips, crackers & nuts
* Avoid spicy or acidic foods: tomatoes, oranges, grapefruit, lemon, chili, tacos, pickles, vinegar
* Supplement diet with health shakes and milkshakes
* Trial soft, moistened foods or pureed foods
* Serve foods cold or at room temperature
* Gargle regularly with a solution made of 1 quart of plain water, ½ tsp. table salt, ½ tsp. baking soda
* Drink water and other fluids frequently throughout the day. Chew sugarless gum or suck on sugarless hard candy to moisten the mouth. Use artificial saliva frequently
* Suck on ice chips or Popsicles
* Avoid mouthwash that contains alcohol
* Over the counter anesthetics such as Xylocaine, Anbesol or Orajel may soothe the pain
* Gelclair provides pain relief by adhering to the mucosal surface of the mouth & soothing oral lesions. It forms a protective barrier in the mouth. Available by prescription only
* Caphosol lubricates & cleanses the mouth similar to human saliva
* Palifermin (Kepivance) speeds the healing of mucositis and stops sores from forming in the lining of the mouth and throat. It is used in patients that received high-dose chemotherapy followed by HSCT.
Copyright 2007-2008. Sharlene Bidini, RD. All rights reserved.
