Managing Patients Undergoing Cancer Therapy

By Roxanne Dsouza, MS, RDH and Elizabeth C. Kornegay, MS, RDH

The National Cancer Institute estimates the number of new cancer cases—diagnosed at any site in the body—in the United States in 2021 will be 1,898,160.¹ Cancer is most frequently diagnosed in people ages 65 to 74, with 66 being the mean age of diagnosis.¹ The 5-year relative survival rate is 67.7%.¹ Sex impacts risk as well, as men have a 40.1% chance and women have a 38.7% chance of developing cancer in an invasive site.² Because of this high likelihood, dental hygienists need to understand the types of cancer therapies, their effects on the oral cavity, and the treatment considerations for patients undergoing cancer therapy. c

* References can be found in the original article via the link below.
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