tailieunhanh - Best Practice: Evidence Based Practice Information Sheets for Health Professionals

The abnormal lump or spot may be found using mammography or other testing methods. A procedure called a biopsy removes a piece of tissue from the lump or spot to find out if cancer cells are present. The pathology report will tell you what kinds of cells are present. is the breast cancer invasive? If breast cancer is found, it’s important to know whether the cancer has spread outside the milk ducts or lobules of the breast where it started. Non-invasive cancers stay within the milk ducts or milk lobules in the breast. They do not grow into or invade normal. | Volume 2 Issue 3 1998 ISSN 1329 - 1874 actice Evidence Based Practice Information Sheets for Health Professionals Prevention And Treatment Of Oral Mucositis In Cancer Patients Introduction Oral mucositis also called stomatitis is a common debilitating complication of cancer chemotherapy and radiotherapy occurring in about 40 of patients. It results from the systemic effects of cytotoxic chemotherapy agents and from the local effects of radiation to the oral mucosa. Oral mucositis is inflammation of the mucosa of the mouth which ranges from redness to severe ulceration. Symptoms of mucositis vary from pain and discomfort to an inability to tolerate food or fluids. Mucositis may also limit the patient s ability to tolerate either chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Mucositis may be so severe as to delay treatment and so limit the effectiveness of cancer therapy. Patients with damaged oral mucosa and reduced immunity resulting from chemotherapy and radiotherapy are also prone to opportunistic infections in the mouth. The mucositis may affect patients gum and dental condition speech and self esteem are reduced further compromising patients response to treatment and or palliative care. It is therefore extremely important that mucositis be prevented This Practice Information Sheet Covers The Following Concepts 1. Quality Of Research 2. Treatment Options 3. What Is Effective 4. Recommendations - Oral Care Protocol 5. Other Treatment Options Levels of Evidence All studies were categorised according to the strength of the evidence based on the following classification system. Level I Evidence obtained from a systematic review of all relevant randomised controlled trials. Level II Evidence obtained from at least one properly designed randomised controlled trial. Level Evidence obtained from well designed controlled trials without randomisation. Level Evidence obtained from well designed cohort or case control analytic studies preferably from more than one centre or .