Role Of Oral Physicians In Delivering Palliative Care In Terminally Ill Head And Neck Cancer Patients: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

The most frequent oral signs of terminally ill head and neck cancer patients include mucositis, xerostomia, nausea, vomiting, candidiasis, nutritional deficits, dehydration, and dysgeusia. Oral mucositis is one of the most common side effects in 75–99% of people who have undergone head and neck chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Management of oral mucositis is necessary to achieve nutrition and phonation. There is currently a scarcity of information regarding the palliative and preventive therapies that oral physicians should administer to patients who are terminally ill. The integration of oral physicians into palliative care teams for terminally ill cancer patients is crucial. Their expertise in managing oral health issues can improve these patients' overall quality of life. Palliative Care and Cancer Organizations should prioritize the inclusion of oral physicians in interdisciplinary palliative care teams, recognizing the holistic nature of patient well-being and the potential impact on both physical and emotional aspects of their final journey.