Current Approaches to Oral Mucositis Prevention and Treatment In Patients Receiving Chemotherapy: Evidence- Based Practices

Chemotherapy used in cancer treatment disrupts primary mucosal barriers by also suppressing the growth and differentiation of the rapidly dividing epithelial cells of the mucosa while preventing the proliferation and progress of cancerous cells. Oral mucositis, characterized with mucosal barrier disruption, erythema, edema, bleeding and ulceration, leads to hoarseness, difficulty in speech, chewing and swallowing. While these adverse effects of mucositis negatively affect the patients’ nutrition, they also cause reduction or skip of treatment dose. In spite of many studies focusing on oral mucositis, there is no standard prevention or treatment practice for it. This review paper was prepared with the objective of informing our colleagues on current practices in mouth hygiene which is an important element of nursing care, and current practices on oral mucositis prevention and treatment in patients receiving chemotherapy.