Hina Khan suffering from mucositis: Experts decode symptoms, causes, treatment

Hina Khan who is battling Stage 3 breast cancer is continuously sharing her treatment and recovery journey with fans updating them about personal decisions challenges and more She recently took to Instagram to reveal that she is struggling with lsquomucositisrsquo a painful sideeffect of chemotherapyShe wrote ldquoAnother side effect of chemotherapy is mucositis Although I am following the doctors advice to treat it if any of you have been through it or have known any useful remedies please suggest Its really hard when you cant eat It will greatly help merdquoLess than a week after this development she took to Instagram Stories to give an update on her fight against mucositis revealing that the condition is better now Posting a selfie she wrote This is for each one you My Mucositis is much better I read all your comments and suggestions You all hv been a great great help Sending you all tons of loveMucositis is a common side effect of chemotherapy and proper information and guidance is key to combat it Middaycom speaks to medical experts who reveal the symptoms causes and measures to navigate the conditionWhat is mucositisldquoMucositis is inflammation of the mucosa the mucous membranes that line your mouth and your entire gastrointestinal GI tractrdquo reveals Dr Pritam Kataria Medical Oncologist Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital MumbaiHe further explains ldquoBetween 2040 per cent of patients with solid tumours receiving chemotherapy develop mucositis usually within five to fourteen days of starting treatmentrdquoExplaining why chemotherapy causes mucositis Dr Atul Narayankar Consultant Medical Oncologist Wockhardt Hospitals Mira Road says ldquoCancer patients undergoing radiation and chemotherapy can suffer from this condition as these treatments are known to damage the cells of the mucosa and tend to take a toll on the mouth and abdominal organsrdquoDr Kataria further clarifies ldquoCancer treatments are a common cause of mucositis Whether or not they are targeting cancer the following treatments frequently cause mucositis chemotherapy radiation of the head chest or neck and bone marrow transplantsrdquoldquoThe cells in the bodyrsquos mucous membranes divide rapidly similar to cancer cells Chemotherapy and radiation therapy attack cancer cells and any other rapidly dividing cells including those of the mucous membranes along the oral cavity and GI tractAlso Read National Nutrition Week 2024 Planning to fast this festive season Mumbai dieticians explain why nutritious eating is essentialHow does mucositis affect the bodyGiven how common this condition is it is important to be prepared for its effects while undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapyDr Kataria states ldquoMucositis can cause difficulty in eating or loose stools leading to loss of appetite and weight loss Also there could be fatigue and pain while eatingrdquoDr Narayankar adds ldquoOne known to have this condition will experience severe pain owing to radiation therapy and will find it difficult to eat food or drink liquids It can also cause bleeding while one is brushing teethThis condition can further cause mouth infection and severe mucositis can lead to interruptions or reductions in cancer treatment leading to a bad prognosis of the disease This condition can impact onersquos quality of life as one will have nutritional problemsrdquoAlthough generally severe the condition doesnrsquot impact everyone in the same wayldquoThe incidence and severity of mucositis vary between chemotherapeutic agents the number of chemotherapy cycles the dose of chemotherapy and from patient to patientrdquo informs Dr KatariaDr Narayankar states ldquoThis is a temporary condition and will go away on its own after a while One with this condition shouldnrsquot panic and seek timely help from the expertrdquoWhat are the symptoms of mucositisFor early diagnosis and intervention one must look out for the following signs and symptoms of mucositisldquoThe signs and symptoms of this condition include having extremely dry and sore mouth ulcers that can be painful mouth infection causing bad breath bleeding white patches with pus high saliva production and swallowing difficultyrdquo explains Dr NarayankarMost symptoms of mucositis affect the mouth However the GI tract is also affected Dr Kataria states the following GI symptomsbull Diarrheabull Blood in the fecesbull Stomach crampsAlso Read lsquo810 lakhs could save your lifersquo Mumbai experts on building financial shieldsHow to prevent and treat mucositisDr Kataria shared the following measures for managing mucositisbull Sometimes mucositis could be caused due to reduction in blood count So managing WBC count is importantbull Doctors may prescribe topical pain relief medications antifungal lozenges or antiseptic mouthwashbull Keeping the oral cavity clean is importantMeasures for prevention of oral mucositis includebull Avoid all tobacco productsbull Stay hydratedbull Keep the lips and mouth moistbull Eat a healthy balanced dietbull Avoid hot spicy or salty foodsbull Limit the intake of hot fizzy or alcoholic drinksbull Avoid hard or crunchy foodsDr Narayankar suggests the following measures to manage mucositisbull One should suck on ice cubes from time to time opt for a sugarfree gum to keep the mouth moistbull Tackle the problem of dry lips with the help of a lip balm recommended by an expertbull Eating soft moist foods like soup jelly frozen fruits and vegetables icecream milkshakes cheese mashed potatoes eggs custards and puddings can be beneficial for patientsbull Be sure to avoid foods loaded with sugarbull Brushing teeth with a soft brush and drinking enough water is advised for patientsbull Use a mouth wash only after consulting an expert Nutritional aspects of mucositisSince mucositis mainly affects the mouth and the GI tract eating becomes a challenge In such a situation it is difficult for the body to get desired nutrients for functioning properly How can this be navigatedFauziya Ansari Dietitan Apollo Spectra Hospital Mumbai says ldquoWhen dealing with mucositis maintaining healthy nutrition levels can feel like a daunting task One may experience difficulty in eating food or even swallowing a few sips of waterrdquoIn order to navigate that she says ldquoLook for foods that are easy to chew or swallow that do not trigger your mouth ulcer or inflammation For optimal nutrition you can add additional nutritional shakes smoothies or juices made from a range of vegetables fruits or protein powders Focus on foods that provide maximum protein such as yogurt lentils chia seeds tofu paneer milk soybean mushroom spinach rajgira amaranth barley oats and dry fruitsrdquoShe further states ldquoEnsure that you drink an adequate amount of water to stay hydrated You can try eating in smaller portions making it easier for you to chew or eat while maintaining a nutritional balance Be mindful about your eating habits Chew your foods slowly and savour each bite to create a better connection with the food during this tough timerdquoShe gives the following tipsbull If you are dealing with mucositis then you need to make mindful decisions when it comes to food bull Select foods that are gentle on your digestive tract and mouth as they can further lead to allergic reactions causing diarrhea constipation gas bloating and vomitingbull In case you feel difficulty chewing then you can blend or puree blanched vegetables into soups or stewsbull Opt for soft fruits like bananas strawberries avocados papaya grapes plum kiwi dragon fruit watermelon oranges and cheery These fruits are packed with essential nutrients like vitamins minerals fibers antioxidants zinc folic acid potassium magnesium and calciumbull Avoid foods that are spicy acidic oily rough textured or hot foodbull Opt for healthy drink alternatives like coconut water almond milk or soy milk for maximum nutritional intakeDisclaimer This information does not replace professional medical advice Kindly consult a qualified medical professional for personalized guidance