Oral complications in cancer chemotherapy, cancer incidence, and mortality in the U.S.

Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the United States. Patients treated with chemotherapy, especially patients undergoing bone marrow and peripheral stem cell transplants, frequently suffer oral complications. The dentist is responsible for detecting and treating all active and potential sources of oral infection, in addition to providing follow-up care for the patient, in a manner that does not delay the treatment of the cancer.