Tips from Oncology

I just posted yesterday, but I learned some neat things today about oncology which I wanted to share.

1. Bone marrow transplant patients aren't allowed to brush their teeth. Their gums become really weak and prone to bleeding, which means they are vulnerable to infection and even worse mucositis than normal. They are allows to use a disposable, mint-flavored sponge on a stick (called a toothette) to clean out their mouth and to swish with rinses. My RD stresses the importance of good oral care with all of her patients.

2. Patients can rinse their mouths with baking soda to neutralize the weird tastes they may have in their mouth.

3. Scott Hamilton has website with a really comprehensive list of chemotherapy agents, their use and mechanisms, side effects, etc. that my RD uses regularly as a reference: www.chemocare.com