HELPING PATIENTS TO MAINTAIN A NORMAL LIFESTYLE, BECAUSE OUR VICTORY LIES IN YOUR SMILE!

When diagnosed with cancer, a person’s world turns upside down; everything seems purposeless, and they may lose the will to take care of their health. But with advanced medical treatments survival rate from this ruthless disease of cancer has increased many folds.

Over 90,000 patients in Pakistan alone are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. Hence its awareness and education are vital even for men because although to an insignificant amount, but breast cancer can invade a man’s body too. The consequences of breast cancer treatment can be extreme when not appropriately addressed at the right time, one of them being deteriorating oral health.

BREAST CANCER AND ITS CONSEQUENCES.

It is unlikely for breast cancer to spread to other parts of the body when diagnosed at the earliest stage and the treatment starts immediately. But breast cancer has chances of spreading when it is not caught at the right time. In either case, whenever the treatment begins, the patient is thoroughly counseled for the upcoming bodily changes that will occur in every part due to the disease and as a side effect of the treatment itself.

Skin, nail, hair, and oral problems are most commonly encountered during breast cancer treatment that also needs medical attention and management in the parallel run. Durrani’s Dental Clinic imperatively focuses on oral care and the management of dental problems arising as a result of drugs, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgical treatment of breast cancer.

Many oncologists have reached out to dentists and dental hygienists to take their valuable advice regarding oral health while the treatment is going on, and when the need arises, many patients are referred to dental clinics for the required oral care.

BREAST CANCER TREATMENT AND ORAL CARE.

Oral complications tend to develop very quickly during breast cancer treatment causing discomfort to the patient. Many studies have proven the direct relationship between drugs and radiation used to treat cancer with worsening dental health.

Therefore, it is crucial to have a pre-treatment dental assessment of the patient to evaluate the mouth and how things will be managed during the treatment. Even if oral health is in perfect condition before the treatment, it is at high risk of developing a plethora of problems; hence regular appointments and dental checkups are mandatory for the patients.

Dr. Shoaib Durrani at Durrani’s Dental Clinic regularly guides his dental team in providing oral care advice and guidelines to the patients undergoing breast cancer at all times. The dental team is available on call and even online for cancer patients to save them the pain of traveling unless necessary, especially in this pandemic. 

ORAL PROBLEMS YOU NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR DURING BREAST CANCER TREATMENT.

Many oncologists feel the need to call dentists and dental hygienists to assist them in treating and managing the oral manifestations arising. At Durrani’s Dental Clinic, we have made it a fundamental rule to attend and brief breast cancer patients about taking care of their oral health and how certain problems can be managed at home.

Oral problems can be acute (short-term), or chronic (long-term), the most common oral problems occurring during breast cancer treatment are:

• Chemotherapy: the lining of the mouth; oral mucosa tends to get inflamed due to chemotherapeutic agents. Oral mucositis appears reddish and even ulcerated, causing mucosal pain and difficulty in eating. The patient is prone to oral functions such a bacterial, fungal, or viral as the count of white blood cells (the fighting cells inside the body) decreases during chemotherapy. 
• Radiation therapy: it can cause significant changes in the consistency of salivae, such as thickening of saliva or dry mouth (xerostomia) by decreasing the salivary flow, which can give birth to several dental problems such as dental caries, gum disease, gingival bleeding, tooth loss.
• A long-term side effect of breast cancer treatment is related to the bones, known as osteoporosis, in which the bones become porous and weak. When this occurs in jawbones, it can cause many dental issues like loosening of teeth.
• Drugs and therapies used during breast cancer treatment can also cause changes in taste sensations (dysesthesia).
• Mouth sores, inflammation of the tongue, the floor of the mouth, palate, stiffness of the jaw can also occur, causing pain and discomfort to the patient.

Oral problems can occur before, during, or after the course of breast cancer treatment; hence have to be managed accordingly. The oncologists collaborate with the dentists because it is best to stick with the same doctors throughout and after the treatment for better management and a faster recovery, as they are fully aware of the history, disease, and complications of the patient.

BREAST CANCER AND ORAL COMPLICATIONS- 

Breast cancer patients, with prior good dental health and concern regarding high hygiene maintenance, are more likely to overcome the oral complications because where there is a will, there is a way!

At Durrani’s Dental Clinic, we advise our patients not to lose hope because if there is a disease, there is also a treatment for it, but what matters most is the cooperation and awareness of the patient. We encourage the patient’s oncologist or doctor to share all the treatment details with us; this way treatment for breast cancer and its complications stay coherent.

What can be done to prevent dental problems?

Dr. Shoaib Durrani instructs his cancer patients to pay a dental visit every four weeks or as needed; this way, the oral problems arising during the breast cancer treatment can be fixed immediately, such as;

• Dental caries can be caught at the initial stage and fixed by fluoride treatments, fillings, etc.
• Plaque and calculus can be removed regularly by scaling and polishing
• Dental infections can be taken care of.
• Problems occurring in the bone can be caught, and the resulting consequences, such as loosening of dentures or periodontal issues, can be treated.
• Dry mouth can be treated with relevant drugs

DURRANI’S DENTAL CLINIC – ORAL CARE ADVICE.

We know that life is challenging for cancer patients. Therefore we advise the patients to consult us at every step of their treatment. We provide guidelines to them that can improve their oral health and significantly reduce their distress.

The advice is for your good, please heed Doctor’s advice seriously!

• Brush twice daily for at least two minutes gently.
• Use of floss and mouthwash is mandatory.
• Promote adequate bone health by taking the prescribed supplements.
• Avoid the use of cigarettes and alcohol.
• Avoid having too much sticky or sugary food.
• Visit the dentist regularly.
• Explain your problems to your doctor so that they are aware of your discomfort.
• Never miss your medications.
• Listen to your doctors!

Everyone wants to have a happy and healthy lifestyle; hence they need to acknowledge that a healthy mouth is a key to it. Oral problems can disrupt your routine, adding torment to your life, which is already encapsulated by the challenges thrown in by breast cancer. Therefore, follow your doctor’s instructions strictly and obediently.

CONCLUSION.

Advising you is our responsibility at Durrani’s Dental Clinic but the following is your decision. We strive to provide you with a better lifestyle, which cannot be accomplished without your cooperation.

Take care of yourself, and keep smiling!