Mouth irritation

Mouth irritation, also called oral mucositis, is a significant side effect of some chemotherapy drugs and the local effects of radiation treatment. Mucositis may cause painful sores in your mouth (also called ulcerations). It can also lead to difficulty swallowing, impair speech, and prevent normal eating and drinking. In some patients, mucositis can affect the entire gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Symptoms indicating GI involvement can include abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Recent findings have shed more light on the problem of mucositis, which is leading to better prevention and treatment strategies. This Web content describes the best practices for preventing mucositis.

Because mucositis is a form of inflammation, it also can lead to an infection. Therefore, report any fever to your physician or other professional caregiver immediately. Read more on how to prevent infections.

NOTE: If you need to go to the emergency room for any reason, immediately tell the triage nurse and the person at the registration desk that you are a patient with cancer and you need to be separated from everyone else in the waiting room.