Handbook of Chemotherapy
The majority of conventional chemotherapeutic agents cause cell death by directly inhibiting the synthesis of DNA or interfering with its function. This means that they are often not tumour-specific and are associated with considerable morbidity. Patients undergoing cancer therapy may experience unwanted side-effects involving the oral cavity and more evidence is emerging regarding the management of these complications. These oral effects have both short and long-term implications. Most of the side effects gradually disappear after the end of treatment, though in some cases permanent damage may be observed at cardiac (myocardiopathy), pulmonary (fibrosis), renal (chronic renal failure) or reproductive level more...