Mucositis
Targeted or specific therapy

Special preventative treatments to help control mucositis are sometimes given during specific types of cancer therapy. You may or may not receive these additional treatments, which can include:

Amifostine: Is administered as an IV. This drug may be helpful in decreasing the chances of xerostomia in people who have radiation therapy that includes the head and neck region. ⁶

Cryotherapy: This involves keeping ice or cold liquids in the mouth during short chemotherapy infusions. It has been shown to be helpful for people receiving five fluorouracil, melphalan, and possibly other chemotherapy drugs. ¹, ⁵

Palifermin: (keritinocyte growth factor a special type of protein that stimulates cell growth) is used for people with some cancers undergoing very high doses of chemotherapy, (with or without radiation), which is then followed by a bone marrow transplant. It is given as an IV, before the chemotherapy is given and again after the transplant infusion. ⁸ Benzydamine - has been approved for use in Europe, but is not available for use in the United States at this time.