[Oral Care in Cancer Chemotherapy-The Role of Multidisciplinary Collaboration]

Oral complications arising from cancer pharmacotherapy can profoundly impair patients' quality of life and potentially hinder the continuity and efficacy of cancer treatment. Proactive oral healthcare is essential in mitigating the incidence and severity of these complications, thereby facilitating oral functions such as eating and speaking, and sustaining patients' overall well-being. Accordingly, it is strongly recommended that dental professionals engage in oral management as part of the multidisciplinary cancer care team, beginning prior to the initiation of cancer therapy. However, due to the limited number of dental professionals working within hospital settings, collaboration with community-based dental clinics is frequently required. Moreover, interdisciplinary cooperation with nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals is indispensable to ensure the provision of high-quality oral healthcare. We contend that by harnessing the specialized knowledge of each discipline within a collaborative framework, the standard of oral care can be elevated, ultimately contributing to improved patient quality of life and enhanced therapeutic outcomes.