If You Are Hospitalized

If you need to stay in a hospital or other inpatient facility while being treated for cancer, don't be afraid to tell your nurse and other caregivers if you have digestive problems, if you have trouble swallowing, or if your throat hurts. Mucositis can cause more than physical distress throughout the entire GI tract; it also can cause quality-of-life issues. Oncology nurses and others are competent to deal with both.

In the past few years, mucositis has received much attention regarding its pervasiveness, as well as how much of the body it affects. Mucositis follows a pattern of "phases," from early onset when no lesions are present to healing of lesions. Phase-specific treatments now can be offered.

If you have questions about any treatment that is suggested to help you with mucositis, feel free to ask your nurse about it.