Joel B. Epstein, DMD, MSD, FRCD(C), University of Illinois, College of Dentistry, Department of Oral Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences and Chicago Cancer Center, and Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Chicago, Il.

Harvey Wigdor, DDS, MS, University of Illinois, College of Dentistry, Department of Oral
Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences and Chicago Cancer Center, and Advocate Illinois
Masonic Medical Center, Chicago, Il.

Oropharyngeal cancer is a disease of adults and has a higher risk of occurrence with increasing age. In addition, oral complications of cancer therapy are more frequent and may be more severe in older patients. The prevention and treatment of oral complications of cancer therapy, with an emphasis on older adults, are reviewed in this report.

Key words: oropharyngeal, cancer, palliation, radiation, side effects.