About Oral Mucositis

What is oral mucositis?

Painful oral lesions come in a variety of forms, from multiple small ulcers to more severe conditions such as oral mucositis. Oral mucositis is characterised by unpleasant, painful ulcers and inflammation in the mouth.

In some cases, oral mucositis can cause severe discomfort or pain and may even prevent swallowing of food and fluids.

Who is affected by oral mucositis? Show/Hide

Oral mucositis affects people who are receiving radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy for a wide variety of reasons. Oral mucositis occurs in:

85-100% of patients receiving radiotherapy for head and neck cancer¹
- 25-45% had severe oral mucositis
75-100% of patients receiving stem-cell transplantation (chemotherapy is used to prepare the patient's system beforehand)¹
- 25-60% had severe oral mucositis
5-40% of patients receiving treatment for solid tumours with myelosuppressive chemotherapy¹

However, the true incidence of oral mucositis may be even higher as oral mucositis that is not classed as 'severe', but which may have an impact on patients' comfort, is not consistently reported.²

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What problems can oral mucositis cause? Show/Hide

The oral side effects associated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy can have a severe impact on patients' lives and can also affect their treatment. In patients who experience moderate to severe oral mucositis (grades 3−4):²

1 in 3
- will have their current chemotherapy stopped, with another treatment being sought, or
- will need to have their next cycle of chemotherapy delayed
2 in 3
- will need to have their next dose reduced
- will require hospitalisation
Nearly 3 in 4
- will require a feeding tube to ensure adequate nutrition

As well as these problems, oral mucositis can lead to:

Increased risk of infection and fever⁶
Need for strong painkillers (e.g. opioids)⁶
Increased weight loss⁶
Restricted mouth care⁷
Impaired speech⁷

To watch videos of other people’s experiences with oral mucositis, click here or click on the "Patient Case Studies" tab at the top of the page.

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What causes oral mucositis? Show/Hide

The lining of the mouth, or oral mucosa, is more sensitive than the rest of your skin. The symptoms of oral mucositis are caused by a breakdown of the oral mucosa and subsequent exposure of the nerve endings, related to chemotherapy or radiotherapy. What causes oral mucositis

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When do symptoms develop? Show/Hide

Chemotherapy: symptoms usually develop between days four and five, peaking after seven to ten days.⁸

Radiotherapy to the head and neck: symptoms will usually start one to two weeks after first dose of radiotherapy and usually continue for one to three weeks after therapy is completed.⁸

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How is oral mucositis managed? Show/Hide

Good oral hygiene is important in preventing and managing oral mucositis. Two key doctors' organisations, the Multinational Association of Supportive Care In Cancer (MASCC) and the International Society of Oral Oncology (ISOO), agree that patients should:⁹

Brush, floss, rinse and moisturise their mouths regularly and systematically
Use a soft toothbrush and replace it on a regular basis
Report oral pain to their healthcare provider
Be sure to attend any dental appointments arranged for before, during and after their cancer treatment

But what if the oral mucositis has already occurred?

Gelclair^® is an oral gel that helps to relieve the pain associated with oral mucositis and other treatment-related oral lesions. Gelclair^® does this by forming a bioprotective coating inside the mouth, offering rapid and effective pain management³⁻⁵ and can potentially improve a sufferer's ability to eat and drink.^3,5

To find out more about how Gelclair^® works and where to get it, click here or click on the "About Gelclair^®" tab at the top of the page.

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