Sammanfattning
A systematic review found a variable incidence of oral complications in women receiving adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer. Equally, no consensus was found to exist on prevention, treatment and relief for oral complications of chemotherapy. The women are thus given differing advice on oral ailments, and interventions are made depending on the individual nurse’s experience.
Chemotherapy alters the ordinary bacterial flora of the oral cavity and generally impairs the immune response. This can result in an increased risk of oral complications.
These may consist of oral plaques and oral pain along with reduced appetite and weight loss. There is also an increased risk of local or systemic infection, which may result in postponement or prolongation of adjuvant therapy, reduced quality of life and increased medicine expenditure.
Although national and international guidelines exist on oral complications, these guidelines concern different diagnostic groups and therapeutic regimens. None of these guidelines specifically apply to oral complications in women receiving adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer.