A study on management of oral cancer in a tertiary care hospital

Authors

  • Mangala Srinivas Department of Pharmacology, K. S. Hegde Medical Academy, Nitte University, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India
  • Ravichandra Volabailu Department of Pharmacology, K. S. Hegde Medical Academy, Nitte University, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India
  • Jayarama Shetty K. Department of Oncology, K. S. Hegde Medical Academy, Nitte University, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India
  • Sangeeta Nath Sharma Department of Pharmacology, K. S. Hegde Medical Academy, Nitte University, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20180098

Keywords:

Chemotherapy, Oral cancer, Polypharmacy, Radiotherapy

Abstract

Background: Oral cancers form nearly 30% of the cancers. The most effective way of combating oral cancer is by early diagnosis followed by concurrent chemo-radiotherapy which is the most popular approach in current practice. The adverse effects seen in oral cancer patient’s due to their treatment are nausea & vomiting, mucositis, constipation, diarrhoea, fatigue & radiation dermatitis. Polypharmacy is due to variety of treatment options in oral cancer patients, which needs to be addressed.

Methods: Over a period of 18 months, the in-patient records of 79 patients with oral cancers, admitted to oncology ward of Justice K. S. Hegde Charitable Hospital, Mangalore, were scrutinized and the data collected in a specially designed proforma. Descriptive analysis of the data was done.

Results: Required data was collected from 79 patients, out of which 55.7% of the patients underwent surgery and later received chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Most commonly seen adverse effects due to treatment were weight loss (75.9%), reduced appetite (67.1%), fatigue (75.9%), pain (79.7%) and skin discoloration (50.6%), etc. Various classes of adjuvant drugs were used for complications caused due to the treatment of oral cancers. Drugs like topical applicant /mouth washes constituted the bulk of the prescriptions (22%) followed by nutritional supplements (15.34%), NSAID/opioids (12.76%) hematinic (12.59 %) and other groups of drugs were also used.

Conclusions: Present study helped us to plan evidence based strategies to reduce or prevent post treatment complications. Most of the adverse effects were treated accordingly to keep the patient comfortable.

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Published

2018-01-23

How to Cite

Srinivas, M., Volabailu, R., K., J. S., & Sharma, S. N. (2018). A study on management of oral cancer in a tertiary care hospital. International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology, 7(2), 278–282. https://doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20180098

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Original Research Articles