Hina Khan, who is undergoing treatment for stage 3 breast cancer, is now suffering from mucositis. Posting on social media, Hina said that mucositis is a side effect of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment in which cancer cells are killed with medicines. She wrote that due to this disease she is having pain while eating food.

She wrote, “Another side effect of chemotherapy is mucositis. However I am following the doctor’s advice to treat it. If any of you have gone through this or know any useful remedies, please suggest. It is really difficult when you are unable to eat. This will help me a lot.”

All about mucositis

Mucositis is a condition in which the mouth or gut becomes painful and inflamed, often as a side effect of chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Although it can be painful, it usually improves within a few weeks after cancer treatment finishes.

According to the UK National Health Service (NHS), symptoms of mucositis in your mouth usually begin about a week after starting chemotherapy, or about 2 weeks after starting radiotherapy.

This condition occurs when cancer treatments damage the fast-growing cells lining the digestive tract from the mouth to the anus. This damage makes the tissue vulnerable to ulcers and infection.

Mucous membranes, which line parts of the body that contact with air, such as the mouth and digestive tract, produce mucus to protect these areas.

The lining inside the mouth, called the oral mucosa, is particularly sensitive and is the most common site affected by mucositis during chemotherapy or radiation.

Symptoms of mucositis

Oral mucositis is probably the most common, debilitating complication of cancer treatments, especially chemotherapy and radiation.

This causes a number of problems, including pain, nutritional problems due to inability to eat, and an increased risk of infection due to open sores in the mucosa.

According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, symptoms of mucositis include:

• Red, shiny, or swollen mouth and gums
• blood in the mouth
• sores in the mouth or on the gums or tongue
• soreness or pain in the mouth or throat
• Difficulty swallowing or talking
• Feeling of dryness, mild burning or pain while eating
• Soft, white patches or pus in the mouth or tongue
• Excessive mucus in the mouth or thickened saliva

How does this happen?

Those more likely to develop mucositis, or have the condition worsen if it does occur, include:

• Poor oral or dental health.
• Smoking or chewing tobacco and drinking alcohol.
• Gender (women are more likely to develop mucositis than men)
• Dehydration.
• Low body mass index.
• Illnesses such as kidney disease, diabetes or HIV/AIDS.
• Previous cancer treatment.

Other factors include chronic inflammation caused by incorrectly fitted prostheses or defective restorations, hyposalivation before and during treatment, and the use of methotrexate for long-term GVHD prophylaxis.