News > The mouth is the mirror of our health in cancer, too! And what should we do?

On June 17, at the 8th Educational Seminar of the Hellenic Academy of Oncology-EAKO, organized by the Hellenic Society of Medical Oncology-HESMO in collaboration with the Hellenic Open University, I presented the oral care before the initiation and during cancer therapy, as well as after therapy, as lifelong care.

In the session Supportive and Palliative Oncology, Quality of Life in Oncology, I had the honor to present the topic "The importance of oral hygiene before and during cancer treatment". Oral toxicities during treatment and thereafter were described. The criteria for the early diagnosis of infections in the oral cavity, the diagnosis of osteonecrosis and the manifestations and problems that may appear when receiving immunotherapy were presented.

Oral inspection is important and aims to prevent and reduce the severity of oral complications associated with cancer therapies.

Special care is needed to stabilize oral health and treat gingivitis and periodontitis before starting chemotherapy. A recent study showed that inflammation markers and gum disease flare-ups increase during chemotherapy.

The findings of the above study are particularly important, since today we know that people with clean and healthy gums have a lower risk of osteonecrosis!

The increased and extended survival of people with cancer today makes the need for good oral hygiene even more imperative!

The need to train health professionals for early diagnosis and treatment, as well as patients, so that they seek medical help early, was emphasized.

I sincerely thank HESMO, the President Dr Zenia Saridaki, the General Secretary Dr Anastasios Boutis, as well as the Directors of Studies Rrs. F. Zagouri, A. Koutras, A. Boutis, I. Souglakos, N. Tsoukalas.

This invitation is a great honor for me! Thank you very much!

Congratulations on the excellent organization!

Professor Ourania Nicolatou-Galitis, Scientific Responsible of CureCancer - mycancer.gr

Pictured, from left:

Oncologist Dr Ilias Athanasiadis, Director of the Oncology Clinic MITERA HYGEIA, Dr Ourania Nicolatou-Galiti, Stomatologist, Dental Oncologist, and Oncologist Dr Maria Theohari, Supervisor, 1st, 1st University Clinic, General Hospital Laiko.

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