Bollywood actress Hina Khan is undergoing treatment for stage 3 breast cancer. Meanwhile, she has given an update on social media that she is dealing with mucositis, another disease. Mucositis is a side effect of chemotherapy. Hina Khan has written that because of this, it has become difficult for her to eat and drink.
Chemotherapy, one of the most effective methods of cancer treatment, uses drugs to kill cancer cells. It can also have many side effects. Mucositis is one of these. We have explained in detail about chemotherapy earlier.
Mucositis is a condition characterized by pain and swelling in the mouth or stomach. This condition is usually caused by side effects of chemotherapy or radiotherapy or radiation. This makes it very difficult to eat or drink anything. However, if a little care is taken, the condition starts to improve within a few weeks after the completion of cancer treatment.
Its symptoms can sometimes be mild and sometimes severe. It is divided into 4 categories. Grades 1 and 2 have relatively mild symptoms and grades 3 and 4 have severe symptoms. If the case becomes severe, the cancer treatment may need to be stopped.
So, today in 'health water' we will talk about mucositis. You will also learn that-
- What is the status of cancer in the country and in the world?
- What are the symptoms and causes of mucositis?
- Under what conditions can it become serious?
- What are the important things to be aware of during healing?
Cancer cases are increasing in the country and the world. Most deaths in the world are caused by cardiovascular diseases. In this case, cancer is in second place. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about one million people die every year due to cancer. Thus it can be understood that every sixth death in the world is due to cancer.
Last year, the Government of India released cancer-related data in the Rajya Sabha. It was said that about 14.6 lakh new cases of cancer are being reported in India every year. 8 lakh 8 thousand people are dying every year due to this in the country.
The ever-increasing cases of cancer means that its patients will also increase around us. Then mucositis can also occur as a side effect of its treatment as this is the most common side effect of cancer treatment. So it is very important to have general information about it.
Who suffers from mucositis?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, about 50% of people receiving chemotherapy treatment develop mucositis. In addition, 80% to 100% of people who have had radiation therapy or a bone marrow transplant may develop mucositis.
Mucositis affects more if a person smokes tobacco or drinks alcohol. See the graphic in which situations it can be dangerous.
What are its symptoms?
There are two types of mucositis. If one has oral mucositis, it causes white spots or blisters in the mouth. Blood starts flowing from the mouth. This causes swelling, redness and pain. If gastrointestinal mucositis has occurred, inflammation, pain, and ulcers may occur in the intestine.
What other symptoms there may be, see in the graphic.
In what situations is it necessary to see a doctor?
The biggest problem with mucositis is pain. Apart from this, the body becomes very weak during cancer treatment. In addition, mucositis makes it difficult to eat or drink anything. In such a situation, it can increase health problems along with cancer. So its symptoms should not be ignored. See the graphic in which situations it is necessary to consult a doctor.
What is the treatment for mucositis?
Mucositis usually resolves on its own after the course of cancer treatment is completed. Symptoms of mucositis begin to appear one to two weeks after chemotherapy treatment begins. However, it gets better about 1 to 6 weeks after the treatment is completed.
If a cancer patient is receiving radiation therapy, symptoms of mucositis may appear 2 to 3 weeks after treatment begins. In this case, the symptoms get better within 2 to 4 weeks after the treatment is completed.
However, it is also important to take care of food and drink during recovery. For this, see the graphic on what to eat and what to avoid during this period.
There is a high probability of developing mucositis as a result of cancer treatment. However, how severe it will be depends on many factors. How is one's overall health, what kind of treatment is going on, how much attention has been paid to hygiene after treatment. We have no control over some of these factors, but following basic health guidelines can help reduce their symptoms. The most important thing for this is not to consume tobacco, not to smoke and to stay away from alcohol. Take care of oral hygiene and eat a balanced diet rich in nutrients.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
