New machine giving new hope for Mucositis

You have funded a THOR laser machine, which we are using to treat Mucositis in children and young people undergoing chemotherapy.

Mucositis is one of the most common side effects following chemotherapy. It causes severe pain, often requiring the use of Morphine or Fentanyl infusions. Patients stop eating, lose their appetite, and often require total parenteral nutrition (TPN) for several weeks. This leads to delayed discharge from hospital to the Half-Way House or hotel.

We are using the THOR laser machine in line with the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) from Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. The laser treatment reduces the risk and severity of mucositis, lowers the need for TPN, and shortens hospital stays. As a result, we achieve faster turnover on our Children’s HSCT Unit in Newcastle, enabling us to transplant very sick patients on our waiting list more quickly.

Benefits of the THOR Laser Machine:

• Reduces incidence and severity of mucositis

• Lowers need for strong pain relief (e.g., Morphine, Fentanyl)

• Decreases reliance on TPN

• Shortens length of hospital stays

• Increases bed availability on the HSCT Unit

• Enables more timely transplants for seriously ill patients

Thank you to NUFC TRUST