Systematic reviews and guidelines for oral complications of cancer therapies: current challenges and future opportunities

Excerpt

The annual incidence of cancer in the world is estimated at more than 11 million cases with at least 1.3 million in the United States of America [1, 2]. Earlier cancer detection and advances in cancer therapies have provided important management advances to improve survival and quality of life. Common cancer treatment strategies include surgical resection, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The goal of such treatments is to cure the patient from the cancer. However, side effects from these therapies can limit the effectiveness of treatment and have a marked impact on the patient’s quality of life both during and after completion of the cancer therapy. The oral cavity is a common site of complications related to cancer therapies. The Surgeon General’s report on Oral Health in America estimates that more than 30–35% (400,000 annually) of patients undergoing cancer treatment will develop oral complications [3]. …