title: Managing the oral sequelae of cancer therapy.
abstract: Patients undergoing systemic chemotherapy and/or head and neck radiotherapy frequently experience treatment side effects. Oral complications are among the most common problems associated with these therapies. These sequelae include mucositis, oral hemorrhage, infection, and xerostomia (dry mouth). Occasionally, oral complications are so severe that the cancer treatment must be reduced or even terminated. By providing comprehensive care, nurses work to help prevent, identify, and manage these oral sequelae, and thus maximize quality of life. Limiting the effects of oral sequelae increases patient adherence to treatment protocols, improves the quality of life, and increases the odds of long-term survival.
authors.affiliation: University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Georgia Robins
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Sadler
authors.forename: Annemarie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stoudt
authors.forename: Judith T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Fullerton
authors.forename: Loree K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Oberle-Edwards
authors.forename: Quoc
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Joel B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Epstein
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing; D006801:Humans; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000451:nursing*; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000379:methods; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing*; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D011321:Primary Nursing / Q000379:methods; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents