Oral mucositis may look like little cuts or ulcers in the mouth. This can be a side effect of chemotherapy or radiation therapy. It can be painful, making it difficult to eat, swallow, or even speak.
Mouth sores usually appear 2–3 weeks after the start of treatment and may keep reappearing after each cycle.
Am I suffering from oral mucositis?
You can use the below checklist to see if your symptoms correspond to oral mucositis:
- Do you have sores in your mouth that may look red, sometimes with white spots in the centre?
- Do you experience pain when you chew or swallow?
- Do you feel like you have a sore throat?
- Can you see swelling in your gums, or mouth?
- Is there bleeding from little cuts in the mouth, on the gums or under the tongue?
- Do you find pus on your tongue?
- Is there increased mucus in your mouth?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, alert your treating team. They can guide you to better manage these symptoms and avoid any related infection.
What can I eat when I have oral mucositis?
Chewing and swallowing can become difficult during this time. To avoid irritating the sores, it is best to consume foods that do not require much chewing. Semi-solid, soft foods, particularly those that are cool or mildly cold, may be easier to consume.
Our senior nutritionist has curated these recipes for optimal nutrition and ease during oral mucositis.
1. Strawberry coconut milk smoothie
- 1 cup sliced strawberries
- ½ cup coconut milk
- ½ cup yogurt
- ½ banana
Mix all ingredients in a blender. Serve cool.
2. Jowar, ragi & dates porridge
- ½ cup whole jowar
- ½ cup whole ragi
- 4 dates, deseeded
Wash jowar and ragi, pressure cook with dates and water, blend and cook until thickened. Serve at room temperature.
3. Lettuce & cauliflower soup
- 3 cups lettuce
- 1 cup chopped cauliflower
- ¼ cup chopped onions
- 2 tsp oil, salt & pepper
Saute onions, add vegetables and water, cook, blend and serve at room temperature.
4. Masoor dal & palak khichdi
- 1 cup rice, ½ cup whole masoor dal
- 2 cups spinach, pureed
- Spices, ghee, tomato puree
Cook all ingredients in a pressure cooker. Serve warm with ghee.
5. Golden milk popsicle
- 2 cups coconut milk
- 1½ tsp turmeric
- 4–5 tsp honey
Blend, pour into molds, freeze and serve cold.
6. Chilled cucumber soup
- 1 cucumber
- 1 cup yogurt
- Lemon juice, honey, mint, garlic, salt
Blend all, chill and serve.
7. Pumpkin apple soup
- 2 cups pumpkin, 1 cup apples
- Onion, garlic, oil, salt
Cook and blend all ingredients. Reheat for consistency.
8. Vanilla soy pudding
- 2 cups soy milk, 1 tsp vanilla
- 3 tbsp cornstarch, ⅓ cup sugar, pinch of salt
Mix and cook until thick, add vanilla, chill and serve.
9. Avocado pear spinach smoothie
- 1 cup avocado, 1½ cups spinach
- 1 cup apples, 1 cup pears
Blend with chilled water and serve cool.
10. Carrot onion soup
- 2 carrots, 1 cup onions
- Spices, stock, milk, cream
Cook, blend, reheat, garnish with cream.
11. Curd rice
- ½ cup rice, 1 cup curd
- Tempering: mustard, cumin, ginger, curry leaves, hing
Mix and temper, serve at room temperature.
12. Chicken stew
- 500g chicken breast, carrots, potatoes
- Garlic, bay leaf, butter, maida, salt
Cook everything until soft, shred chicken, mash vegetables. Blend if needed for easy chewing.