Bollywood actress and TV star Hina Khan's brave revelation of her struggle with mucositis, a common side effect of cancer treatment, has been met with a deluge of support and affection from fans and well-wishers on social media. They are flooding her with comforting messages and words of encouragement.
She took to social media to talk about the condition. “Another side effect of chemotherapy is mucositis. Although I am following the doctor's advice to treat it, if any of you have been through it or have known any useful remedies, please suggest,” she posted.
Khan, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, is currently undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
What is Mucositis?
Mucositis is an inflammation of the mucosa, the mucous membranes that line the mouth and the gastrointestinal tract. Mucositis is a common side effect of cancer treatments involving radiation or chemotherapy.
Though the condition is temporary among cancer patients, it requires self and medical care to manage. Battling the pain related to the condition is usually a huge task. Patients should immediately consult their doctor in such cases.
What causes mucositis?
Apart from cancer patients, the condition is also common among those with irregular food habits or too much reliance on junk foods. The mucous membrane, lining one’s entire GI tract, including the mouth, throat, oesophagus, stomach and small and large intestines is affected by mucositis.
What are the two types of mucositis?
Oral mucositis and gastrointestinal mucositis. In the case of oral mucositis, the inflammation happens in the mouth. It often leads to mouth sores or white patches of pus in your mouth. It can vary from mild to severe.
Gastrointestinal mucositis causes abdominal pain and nausea. It is also accompanied by diarrhoea or painful bowel movements if the inflammation is in your colon.
According to experts, up to 50 per cent of people receiving chemotherapy develop mucositis.
Signs and symptoms
The inflammation causes redness, soreness, and swelling. It can cause other specific symptoms in various parts of your body. Mouth ulcers, bleeding, difficulty swallowing, swollen gums, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, and painful bowel movements are some of the main symptoms.
Mucositis usually heals in two to four weeks in the case of cancer treatments.
Preventive measures
In the case of cancer patients, there are no preventive measures. The patients will have to consult their doctor. In some cases, the doctors will change the medicines to offer some relief. Lifestyle changes, including, eating meals at proper times, not skipping meals, and staying hydrated are some common steps that can be adopted.
