Dr. Siegel Discusses RT-Related AEs for Patients With Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinomas

Robert Siegel, MD, chair, professor of medicine, director, Division of Hematology/Oncology, George Washington University, discusses the adverse events (AEs) associated with radiation therapy (RT) for patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas.

The standard of care for treating these patients is a combination of weekly low-dose chemotherapy with cisplatin and radiation therapy.

The short-term associated AE with radiation therapy can be difficulty eating. In the long-term, side effects include dry mouth and an altered sense of taste, which lead to implications such as gum disease and jaw bone decay.