Managing Pain

The symptoms of oral mucositis (OM) may include mouth sores, redness, irritation, swelling and pain. Of these, pain is the most common and often most distressing symptom that patients report. This pain can range from mild to severe. Fortunately there are many things you and your health care team can do to help ease the pain of OM.1,2

Oral Care

Your health care team will continue to stress the importance of good oral care throughout your cancer therapy. Maintaining good oral hygiene and avoiding things that can irritate your mouth may help limit infections and prevent OM from becoming more painful.1

Pain Medications

In addition to excellent oral care, your doctor may find it necessary to prescribe medications for your OM pain. For mild or moderate pain, he or she may prescribe a common pain medication like acetaminophen. For more severe pain, your doctor may prescribe stronger medications called “opioids.” You may be able to control the dosing of these medications on your own. This is called “patient-controlled analgesia.”2

Your doctor also may want to prescribe other medications to help you cope with your pain and discomfort, including antidepressants. While these can help you cope with pain, they also may help you get the restful sleep that is so important during cancer therapy.2

Alternative Strategies

There are many nonmedical strategies for dealing with OM pain. You may find that watching TV or listening to your favorite music distracts you from your OM symptoms. You also might want to talk to your health care team about coping strategies such as relaxation, imagery, massage therapy, acupuncture, meditation, counseling and hypnosis. Many cancer patients have found these techniques to be valuable in helping them feel better overall.2

The Future of OM Management

Oral mucositis is a very complex condition. Researchers are learning new things about OM every day and working hard to come up with even better treatment strategies. As researchers further their understanding of OM, they will continue to develop promising treatments for OM.1 Talk to your doctor to learn more about OM treatments on the horizon.