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Palliative cancer care - oral problems - Making a diagnosis
History
- Enquiry into symptoms and problems with the oral cavity should be part of a full history and examination that includes physical, psychological, social, and spiritual issues:
- Enquire about dry mouth, oral pain, halitosis, alteration in taste, excessive salivation, bad breath, difficulty chewing, difficulty speaking, dysphagia and bleeding [Davies and Finlay, 2005].
- Be particularly alert if the person has any risk factors for oral problems or is using medication that may cause a dry mouth (Table 1).
- Some health care professionals may use an oral assessment guide but there is little justification for their routine use in the palliative care setting [Davies and Finlay, 2005].
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