Tips for Feeling Better During Oral Cancer Treatment

If you have oral cancer, you may have uncomfortable symptoms of the disease.^1,2 For instance, the cancer itself can cause mouth sores that bleed.¹ Or a tumor can cause soreness in your throat that makes it difficult to swallow food.¹

At the same time, you may develop side effects from your cancer treatment. That’s because therapies such as chemotherapy and radiation can harm healthy cells at the same time they destroy cancer cells.² Side effects can include:

• Dry mouth

• Taste changes

• Pain

• Tooth decay

• Mouth infections and swelling²

Fortunately, there are many ways you can reduce these side effects and make yourself more comfortable.² Keeping your side effects in check can also improve the effectiveness of your therapy.² Here are some suggestions:

• See your dental professional for a checkup before you begin treatment, if possible.²

• Eat a healthy diet. Avoid sugary foods and drinks. Blend and chop foods to make them easier to swallow.²

• Brush teeth gently, two to three times a day, using a soft-bristle brush.²

• Floss gently every day.²

• Relieve dry mouth by rinsing four to six times a day with 1 cup of warm water mixed with a half-teaspoon of salt and a half-teaspoon of baking soda.²

¹ “Cancer of the Oral Cavity and Pharynx.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, January 23, 2008. www.cdc.gov/nohss/guideCP.htm Accessed 2010.
² “Oral Complications of Chemotherapy and Head/Neck Radiation (PDQ^®).” National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, March 13, 2008. www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/supportivecare/oralcomplications/patient/allpages Accessed 2010.