MouthMade

What are the consequences of oral mucositis?

Pain
Pain is the major symptom of oral mucositis (OM). It can make it very difficult to eat and drink, at a time when people with cancer need the physical strength to cope with aggressive cancer therapies. Without enough food and drink, people may feel weak, become dehydrated and lose weight.

Infection
The sores and ulcers that line a mouth as a result of oral mucositis are at serious risk of infection. With poor oral hygiene, viruses, bacteria or fungi can infect the ulcers. If this happens the infection may move into the blood, called a blood infection or sepsis. People receiving chemotherapy are more likely to get infections and sepsis, as treatment means their bodies are less able to fight off infection. In some cases, infections can even cause death.

Loss of taste
If the tongue is exposed during radiation, the taste buds on the tongue’s surface may get damaged. Some patients may even experience a complete loss of taste during radiation. The taste buds will usually begin working normally again within 4 months of finishing treatment, although the long-term effect is different from person-to-person and in some cases the taste buds may never fully recover.

Treatment outcome
Perhaps the most worrying consequence of oral mucositis is that many people develop it so severely that it interferes with prescribed cancer therapy. This could ultimately influence the success of the cancer treatment.

Other
People with oral mucositis can sometimes feel embarrassed about their condition and so they spend less and less time with their family, children and friends. This, along with not being able to eat and talk, can lead to feeling lonely and depressed.

If eating enough food becomes a major concern, the use of a feeding tube may be needed to ensure the person receives enough food to deal with their therapy.

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

Download an oral mucositis patient factsheet for your own information and a nurse factsheet to give to your nurse.