OBJECTIVES:

This study aims to assess the frequency of Oral Mucositis (OM) among breast and gynecological cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and or radiation therapy.

METHODS:

A prospective, observational study was conducted among 96 breast and gynecological cancer patients in a tertiary care hospital, subjects received cancer treatment for a period of six months in the wards of medical oncology. The data on demographics, type of cancer, different treatment modalities of the patients from their first cycle till the end of chemotherapy were collected. Detailed interview of patients and their care takers on the signs and symptoms of OM was documented in suitably designed forms. The severity of OM was graded based on National Cancer Institute - Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-CTCAE v5.0) severity scale.

RESULTS:

Among the study patients, breast cancer (52%), cervical cancer (30%) and ovarian cancer (12.5%) were found to be predominant whilst the frequency of OM was found to be n=22(22.97%) among 96 patients. The majority of patients with OM belonged to the age group of 18-59 years n=17(77.27%). Patients with breast cancer had the highest frequency of OM n=15(68.18%) followed by ovarian cancer n=4(18.18%), cervical cancer n=2(9.09%). Patients receiving chemotherapy had a higher frequency of OM n=20(90.90%) than patients receiving chemo-radiation therapy n=2(9.09%).

CONCLUSIONS:

In our study there is a higher frequency of OM is seen in breast cancer patients. Unlike other studies, we found higher frequency of OM in patients receiving Chemotherapy rather than chemo-radiation therapy. Oral mucositis is an extremely serious and challenging complication which increases the responsibilities of health care professionals to detect and treat this adverse event for better patient care.