Dental Impacts of Chemotherapy
- There are some chemotherapy side effects that people talk a lot about, like losing your hair and becoming generally unwell. But when Brittany Atkins's mother began her breast cancer treatment, she had no idea her teeth would "roll completely inwards."
- Chemotherapy can cause major dental issues for cancer patients. Dental care for cancer patients is not always covered by insurance, so many people struggle to get access to this element of treatment.
- Brittany Atkins has planned a charity-run that will raise money for her mom’s health care while also spreading awareness about the financial burdens that come with cancer treatment.
Speaking with Mirror, Brittany Atkins said, "Chemotherapy is really powerful and life-saving, but there are so many side effects. We know about losing hair, we know about getting really unwell, but there are really random ones too like blisters on the soles of your feet, and it's a really unique journey for different patients."
Read MoreAtkins is fighting back with a charity run. She will run 100k around London and Essex to raise money for her mother's dental treatment, and to raise awareness about the financial challenges that cancer patients often face on top of their distressing health conditions.
This year, Kathy Griffin announced she was battling stage I lung cancer, making her part of the 20% of patients who are diagnosed but never smoked.
In honor of her mother's breast cancer battle, Atkins has planned the route of her charity run to look like breasts when outlined on a map. She is even deliberately adding in irregularities to the birds-eye-view illustrations to represent some of the different kinds of breasts a breast cancer survivor might have, like scars and uneven nipples.
"Finding boob shapes to run is hard, but it's running them that is really fun. You spend a lot of time staring at Google Maps trying to find a route," Atkins said. "Planning the nipples is especially funny, and you have to search for little cul-de-sacs to create nipples from."
Entertainment executive Mathew Knowles is a breast cancer survivor
She told the Mirror that part of her mission is "to make the boob shapes diverse." She said, “I've done some boob shapes that look like they've got a scar in them, or running some without nipples, or some with nipples in different places.”
Atkins hopes that her efforts will raise enough money to get her mom back to dental health, and that she can raise awareness about all the financial, logistical, and administrative obstacles that cancer patients have to deal with while they're already going through one of the most scary and draining experiences of their lives.
Treating Cancer and Maintaining Oral Health
According to the National Cancer Institute, some cancer treatments can cause problems in patients' mouth, throat and teeth. If focused on the head or neck, radiation may damage salivary glands and tissues, making it challenging for patients to chew and swallow. Similarly, chemotherapy and immunotherapy can sometimes harm the mouth and throat. Patients may experience infections, sores, dryness, pain, swelling, sensitivity and tooth decay.
It is important to pay attention to oral problems that prevent patients from eating or drinking normally, because dehydration and malnourishment are dangerous for cancer patients. If you are experiencing symptoms that make it harder to eat, try sticking to softer foods, and contact your doctor. Your doctor may be able to help you find mouth rinses or pain medication that can alleviate your discomfort.
To help protect against mouth and dental problems, make sure to get a dental check-up before you begin treatment, and check and clean your mouth every day. Use a soft toothbrush and brush gently after eating. If you notice any changes in your mouth (sores, discoloration, sensitivity, discomfort), report this information to your doctor.
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