How many of your patients suffer from oral mucositis?
Oral mucositis is a common, debilitating side effect of cancer therapy.
Impact of OM
OM is common, with the potential to significantly debilitate and cause:
- Severe pain and ulcerations2,5
- Higher rates of parenteral feeding and PEG tube placements1
- Dysphagia, malnutrition, and weight loss5,5,7
- Serious and potentially life-threatening infections,5
- In neutropenic patients, OM is a clinically significant risk factor for sepsis6
- Significantly impaired quality of life6
- More unplanned visits to the hospital1
- Dose reductions and delays in cancer treatment2
- OM may represent a dose-limiting toxicity6
- Increased opioid use2
Severe OM, Severe Problems
At Grades 3 or 4, OM:
- Causes chemotherapy dose reductions in approximately 60% of affected patients6
- About 30% of these patients have their regimen discontinued entirely6
- Doubles the rate of emergency visits9
- Adds 7 days of hospitalization per chemotherapy cycle9
PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES |
FUNCTIONAL/CLINICAL CONSEQUENCES |
CONSEQUENCES FOR CARE |
Pain |
Nutrition |
Hospitalisation |
Pain is the main symptom of oral mucositis.
It is very disabling and is the 1st cause of complaint in patients since nausea and vomiting are treated actively and effectively.
26,27 |
Difficulty eating, drinking, swallowing and speaking.
Substantial weight loss.
Potential loss of or alternation in the sense of taste due to reduced production of saliva, exposure of the tongue to radiation theraphy and an adverse effect on the taste buds.
Feeding parenterally or by the insertion of a nasogastric tube.6,28,26,29 |
Management of oral mucositis and its consequences (an increase in the number of days in hospital and additional treatments) results in substantial additional costs.30 |
Quality of life |
Infection |
Impact on the cancer |
Breaking off social and family relationships can lead to social isolation, which is a source of great psychological distress and depression.
Mucositis can cause insomnia and asthenia.6 |
Gaps in the oral mucosa can encourage the entry of infectious organisms (bacteria - fungi).
A heightened risk of infections can extend to and contaminate the blood (septicemia), particularly if the immune defence is reduced.27,31 |
Oral mucositis can lead to a reduction in, or even the stopping of, the cancer therapy doses, which can bring about failure of the treatment.5,30 |
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Death |
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The onset of oral mucositis can affect the patient's life expectancy.30 |
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