Actual duration of patient-reported mucositis: Far longer than 2 to 4 weeks and may be avoidable altogether

ABSTRACT

The impression that oral mucositis is a brief 14–28 day-consequence of chemoradiation is misguided. Clinically significant patient-reported oral mucositis may last 46 to 102 days depending on the treatment schedule and the modality used. The process of mucositis can occur in the epithelium throughout the entire GI tract and may possibly be avoided with the prescribed use of high potency polymerized cross-linked sucralfate (HPPCLS). Literature review of patient-reported mucositis occuring in the three common schedules of cancer treatment administration daily radiation therapy, induction-based hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), and multi-cycle chemo/immunotherapy (CT-IT). Review articles published in last 15 years focused on treatment-induced oral mucositis. The author reviewed 56 articles published in 15 years from 1999–2014 that focused primarily on treatment-induced oral mucositis. Only 6 were found to meet the criteria of providing patient-reported data from the beginning, throughout and following cancer treatment. For HSCT, radiation therapy, and CT-IT, despite active anti-mucositis treatment, patient-reported oral mucositis lasted 46–60 days, 70–84 days, and 68–102 days, respectively. Mucositis caused by cancer treatment, regardless of modality, lasts far longer than the oft quoted 2–4 weeks (range, 14–28 days). Patient reported mucositis persists from 46 to 102 days. This patient-based experience is the primary cause of treatment interruptions, delays or cancellations. It may be avoidable with HPPCLS that both prevents and rapidly reverses mucositis anywhere it occurs within the gastrointestinal tract.