Oral mucositis, a cancer side effect

NEW YORK, Oct. 17 (UPI) -- A U.S. cancer specialist says there is little public awareness about a common cancer therapy side effect -- oral mucositis.

Dr. James D'Olimpio of New York University School of Medicine and director of Supportive Oncology/Pain and Symptom Management at the Monter Cancer Center of North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y., says an overwhelming majority -- 90 percent -- of more than 400 oral mucositis patients said this chemotherapy and radiation effect adversely affected their quality of their lives, but more than half felt the condition was not taken seriously.

Recent data suggest that the oral rinse Caphosol, an advanced electrolyte solution, has a significant positive impact on the occurrence and severity of oral mucositis in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy, D'Olimpio says.

"The data are consistent with what we have seen in clinical practice, in that Caphosol can significantly limit the occurrence and severity of oral mucositis; especially in women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer," D'Olimpio says in a statement.

"If you or a loved one has breast cancer, you should be educating yourself about oral mucositis, and asking your physician about medications such as Caphosol that can prevent or treat this common side effect of chemotherapy."