LASER THERAPY APPLIED IN ONCOLOGY PATIENTS WITH ORAL MUCOSITIS

Abstract

Oral mucositis is one of the main complications of cancer treatment, resulting from radiotherapy and chemotherapy, significantly impacting patients' quality of life. The condition causes intense pain, difficulty in eating, and an increased risk of infections. This study is an integrative literature review based on the question: "How can low-level laser therapy assist cancer patients with oral mucositis?" To answer this question, searches were conducted in the SciELO, LILACS, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases using the terms: oral mucositis, low-intensity laser therapy, and oncology. Article selection followed strict criteria, considering only research with qualitative evidence on the efficacy of laser therapy. The main objective was to investigate the benefits of this therapeutic approach for the treatment of oral mucositis, a painful and disabling inflammation. The findings suggest that laser therapy reduces pain, accelerates healing, and improves tissue recovery, making it a viable and safe option for managing the condition. Thus, it is concluded that laser therapy should be considered a complementary strategy to conventional treatments, promoting a better quality of life for cancer patients throughout their therapeutic journey.