Who gets oral mucositis?

Almost half of the people who are treated with chemotherapy and nearly everyone receiving head and neck radiotherapy or a Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT) will get oral mucositis (OM).

As well as the type of cancer being treated, the likelihood of developing oral mucositis varies depending on the situation, lifestyle and medical history of the person. Those at particular risk are:

  • young people and the elderly
  • those with previous oral health problems or oral mucositis
  • people who have poor oral hygiene during treatment
  • smokers
  • people who drink alcohol
  • diabetic patients
  • those receiving certain types of chemotherapy (see What causes OM?)

Always speak to your doctor or nurse if you are worried about oral mucositis.

Download an oral mucositis patient factsheet for your own information and why not print out a nurse factsheet to give to your nurse.


Oral Mucositis
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healthy mouth