Anesthetic Gel Relieves Discomfort in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer
2/17/2006 Iowa City, IA staff CancerConsultants.com According to a study published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics, use of an oral anesthetic gel relieves the pain experienced by patients with oral mucositis following radiation therapy for head and neck cancer. Approximately 40,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with head and neck cancer every year. Cancers of the head and neck comprise several types of cancer affecting the nasal cavity, sinuses, oral cavity, nasopharynx, oropharynx, and other sites throughout the head and neck. Oral mucositis refers to inflammation of the oral mucosa (lining of the mouth) that results from chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Symptoms may include redness, swelling, and ulceration. When oral mucositis is severe, patients cannot swallow food or liquid and often have to be given nutrients through a vein. In addition, oral mucositis can cause severe pain, increase the risk of infection, and may limit a patient’s ability to tolerate further treatment. To assess the safety and feasibility of an oral anesthetic gel among patients with oral mucositis, researchers in Italy conducted a phase II clinical trial among 50 patients who had undergone radiation therapy for head and neck cancer. All patients were treated with a tetracaine-based oral gel. Use of the anesthetic gel appeared to be safe and feasible: -79% of patients reported a reduction in oral pain. -71% reported no difficulty in administering the gel. -12% of patients reported that the gel had an unpleasant taste, and 39% reported that the gel interfered [...]