New problem

Today Mikayla's appetite wasn't very good. Since the beginning of this round of chemo she as lost close to 1 pound. Not much, but she doesn't have alot to spare. I had come home with the older kids to prepare for the start of school only to find out that Mikayla has developed Mucositis. Here is what I have read as I have not yet spoken with her doctor to determine the severity of her condition. Currently she has enlarged lips and has vomitted up quite a bit of mucus.

FONT SIZE A A A Definition of Mucositis Mucositis is a medical term that is used to refer to mouth sores, oral mucositis, or esophagitis. It can range in severity from a red, sore mouth and/or gums to open sores that can cause a patient to be unable to eat. The lining of the entire gastrointestinal tract (mouth, throat, stomach, and bowel) is made up of epithelial cells, which divide and replicate rapidly. Imagine this: if you bite your lip, the tissue is often able to heal by the next day because of this rapid growth. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy kill not only cancer cells, but other rapidly dividing cells as well, including the lining of the entire gastrointestinal tract. This article will discuss the effects on the lining of the mouth and throat (this lining is called the mucosa). Oral mucositis leads to several problems, including pain, nutritional problems as a result of inability to eat, and increased risk of infection due to open sores in the mucosa. It has a significant effect on the patientÕs quality of life and can be dose- limiting (requiring a reduction in subsequent chemotherapy doses).