What Is Mucositis, The Side-Effect Of Chemotherapy That Actor Hina Khan Is Suffering From?

While not everyone going through chemotherapy develops mucositis, those who do, suffer from excruciating pain while trying to eat or drink something.

Hina Khan breast cancer update: Actor Hina Khan, who is battling stage 3 breast cancer, has been undergoing treatment for many months now. Being quite a popular celebrity with millions of people following her on social media, she decided to go public with her breast cancer journey, giving little updates to her fans and followers every so often on how much progress she has made, if there has been any kind of medical setback, etc. The actor has changed her look lately, chopping off all her hair and wearing a wig made of her own hair instead, to enforce the idea of accepting the outcome of chemotherapy sessions, as opposed to fighting it.

Some weeks ago, she even told her followers that she wanted to shave her head because the idea of losing her healthy hair to this disease was heartbreaking. She wanted to do whatever was in her control, while undergoing treatment and braving the inevitable consequence of it. While Khan has talked extensively about losing hair because of chemotherapy sessions, she recently shared an update about her health. The 36-year-old has been suffering from mucositis, another side-effect of chemotherapy.

Khan candidly shared with her followers on Instagram that while she has been following the advice of her doctors to treat the condition, if they had any recommendation or suggestion, she would welcome it. "It's really hard when you can't eat," the actor wrote.

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In a separate post -- a couple of smiling selfies -- she bravely shared another update: "Everything hurts, lekin smile nahi jaani chahiye (...but the smile must not fade). So many problems, I can't even eat properly without feeling pain. But that's no reason to be negative. I choose to smile and encourage myself. I tell myself that all this will be over and we will get through this. One smile at a time."

Khan's infectious optimism at a time like this is being praised by her peers and fans alike. Her courage continues to inspire many others who find themselves in similar situations, something that the actor set out to achieve through her Instagram posts in which she raised awareness about breast cancer.

What Is Mucositis?

We reached out to Dr Atul Narayankar, consultant medical oncologist at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road to understand more about mucositis, and to break it down for our readers. The doctor said mucositis is a common-yet-painful side effect experienced by individuals undergoing chemotherapy, which causes inflammation in the lining of the mouth, throat, and digestive tract. It leads to pain, ulcers, sores, and redness in the affected area. Mucositis can make it challenging for a person to eat food or drink water, resulting in drastic weight loss and dehydration.

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Why Is Mucositis A Side-Effect Of Chemotherapy?

According to Dr Narayankar, chemotherapy is an effective treatment option for cancer. "But, the drugs used during the chemo are so powerful, they tend to damage the lining of the mouth, throat, and even digestive tract, in some cases. The inflammation caused due to chemo can contribute to mucositis. One can experience symptoms like sore mouth and throat, difficulty swallowing, ulcers, increased saliva production, bad breath, fever, changes in taste buds, and sudden weight loss," he explained.

Does It Happen To All Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy?

The doctor said not everyone going through chemotherapy will develop mucositis. Certain types of drugs used and their direct toxicity can increase the chances of contracting mucositis, whose severity may also vary from person-to-person, depending on several factors.

What Is The Best Way To Deal With Mucositis?

Living with mucositis can be an uncomfortable experience. But, Dr Narayankar suggested taking some proactive measures to maintain oral health while eating appropriate foods.

• Ensure you eat soft and easy-to-chew foods, such as soft mushy rice, porridge, soups, khichdi, juice, yogurt, and coconut water that do not irritate your digestive system.
• Avoid eating hot, spicy, and hard foods that trigger your symptoms and cause discomfort.
• Be gentle while brushing your teeth or flossing, to prevent infections.
• If mucositis symptoms start to worsen, your doctor may prescribe certain medications or diet plans for instant relief. One can use soda bicarbonate water gargles or chlorhexidine mouth washes as a prophylactic agent for oral mucositis, the oncologist concluded.