Preventing and treating the oral complications of cancer therapy.
Approximately 1.25 million Americans are diagnosed with cancer for the first time each year. Forty percent (500,000) of these individuals develop oral complications to their cancer therapy. The three modalities of cancer therapy (surgical, pharmacologic, or radiotherapy), employed individually or, more often, in combination, may result in a variety of general and/or treatment-specific oral complications. In many cases, these oral complications lead to dose reductions, delays, or termination of cancer treatment, which reduce the chances of remission or cure. This paper reviews the basic concepts of pretreatment oral care, treatment of oral complications during cancer therapy, and the need for continuing posttreatment oral care.
Massler
C F
CF
Clinical Services, Department of Dentistry, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1093, USA.
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003729:Dental Care; D005459:Fluorides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000473:pathology; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012464:Saliva, Artificial / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D012464:Saliva, Artificial; D005459:Fluorides