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New data show that Caphosol relieves painful oral mucositis (OM) and improves quality of life for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
These data were reported in two separate presentations last week at the 33rd Annual Congress of the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) in Philadelphia, US.
“Oral mucositis is a painful, common side effect experienced by cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and radiation therapy,” said principal investigator Marilyn L Haas, PhD, RN, CNS, ANP-C, Nurse Practitioner, Mountain Radiation Oncology, Asheville, North Carolina, US.
“As layers of epithelial cells in the oral cavity (cells lining the surface of the throat and oesophagus) are eroded during therapy, patients often experience severe pain, are more prone to infection and have difficulty eating and swallowing.
“Our research concludes that Caphosol, a supersaturated electrolyte oral rinse, should be introduced early in the course of cancer therapy for patients at high risk of oral mucositis because it minimises the onset and severity of symptoms.”
The rate of severe oral mucositis (NCI Clinical OM Grade 3-4) reported by head and neck cancer patients using Caphosol, manufactured by EUSA Pharma, in this study was 11% (Grade 3) and 2% (Grade 4). Historically, the incidence of severe OM in head and neck cancer patients receiving radiation typically ranges from 34%–56%, depending upon the specific type of treatment.
