Prevalence of oral manifestations in children and adolescents with cancer submitted to chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Oral complications may be observed during chemotherapy and are important side effects that may directly affect the anticancer treatment, even causing septicaemia in some cases. This research was done in order to evaluate changes in oral lesions during follow-up of children and adolescents in chemotherapy at Hospital Estadual Infantil Nossa Senhora da Glória (HEINSG). METHODS: The study design was longitudinal, 45 patients were evaluated and monitored for 1 month after the initiation of chemotherapy. Twenty-eight patients were male and 17 female, ranging from 3 months to 18 years old. RESULTS: The results show an increase in the number of mucositis cases and a decrease in xerostomia cases after the initiation of treatment, and other oral lesions were also found in low numbers. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to avoid oral complications by maintaining a good oral health, and reducing infectious outbreaks. It is also feasible to obtain an early diagnosis of, and treat these oral complications, preventing them from following a more severe clinical course that may negatively affect the individual's treatment. This outcome requires the presence of a dental surgeon on the multidisciplinary cancer treatment team.

Quality of life of women with pre-and post-operative breast cancer.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate the Quality of Life (QOL) at the pre and postoperative time of women with breast cancer submitted to surgery and to associate it with the socioeconomic class. METHODS: This is a longitudinal study, performed at Santa Rita de Cássia Hospital (HSRC), Vitória - ES, Brazil. The EORTC QLQ instrument C-30 and the EORTC BR-23 were used to measure the QOL of the interviewees before and after breast surgery. RESULTS: A population composed of 87 women, 42.5% were 60 years old or more. The socioeconomic condition C was identified as predominant among the interviewees, covering 62% of the sample (n=54). Women´s QOL in the preoperative period was better in the Physical Function dimensions for class C and D; and the Emotional was better for class B. There was improvement in QOL after surgery for Body Image in class C, and for Social Function in B. Evaluating all social classes, only the dimensions Cognitive Function and Future Perspectives improved in the postoperative period. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of life of women after breast surgery worsened in most of the studied dimensions, evidencing the need for an interdisciplinary work dedicated to the recovery and rehabilitation of these patients.

Prevalence of oral manifestations in children and adolescents with cancer submitted to chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Oral complications may be observed during chemotherapy and are important side effects that may directly affect the anticancer treatment, even causing septicaemia in some cases. This research was done in order to evaluate changes in oral lesions during follow-up of children and adolescents in chemotherapy at Hospital Estadual Infantil Nossa Senhora da Glória (HEINSG). METHODS: The study design was longitudinal, 45 patients were evaluated and monitored for 1 month after the initiation of chemotherapy. Twenty-eight patients were male and 17 female, ranging from 3 months to 18 years old. RESULTS: The results show an increase in the number of mucositis cases and a decrease in xerostomia cases after the initiation of treatment, and other oral lesions were also found in low numbers. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to avoid oral complications by maintaining a good oral health, and reducing infectious outbreaks. It is also feasible to obtain an early diagnosis of, and treat these oral complications, preventing them from following a more severe clinical course that may negatively affect the individual's treatment. This outcome requires the presence of a dental surgeon on the multidisciplinary cancer treatment team.