66eb1e1619e2f6511abb0d20 Kayla Marks Podcast

RDH Magazine Podcast

Help for radiation-induced xerostomia

Sept. 12, 2024

A recent pilot study sought help for patients with radiation-induced xerostomia. Listen as Kayla Marks explains the positive results, as well as how she was involved.

Kayla Marks, BA, RDH, CDA

Jackie Sanders, MBA, RDH, Chief editor, RDH magazine

When her father was diagnosed with stage 4 oral cancer and underwent radiation and chemotherapy treatments, Kayla Marks watched him suffer with the side effect of severe xerostomia. This led to her own interest in the area and what relief is available for these patients.

Her father was able to be part of a two-year pilot study conducted by his medical team that was designed to find relief for the xerostomia. In our podcast, Kayla explains what they learned from the study that included 12 patients. She shares a brief summary of how the the study was conducted and the results for the patients.

Her father responded “incredibly well” to the treatment. The pilot study was so successful it's moved into a Phase 1 clinical trial.

Hear what else she and Jackie Sanders discuss in the latest RDH magazine podcast.

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About the podcast

RDH Magazine Podcast is the community of voices you love from RDH magazine, brought to your podcast feed every week. You can expect to gain education and have the RDH magazine community in your ears to complement the content you enjoy online and in print each month.

About the Author

Kayla Marks, BA, RDH, CDA

Kayla Marks, BA, RDH, CDA, is a licensed dental hygienist and certified dental assistant with 25-plus years of experience as an oral health-care provider in both general dentistry and periodontics. She’s a full-time faculty member of the dental hygiene and dental assisting programs at Blackhawk Technical College in Janesville, Wisconsin. She most recently completed her career and technical education leadership certificate from the University of Wisconsin-Stout.

About the Author

Jackie Sanders, MBA, RDH | Chief editor, RDH magazine

Jackie Sanders, MBA, RDH, has over four decades of continual career development and experience in dentistry. As the chief editor of RDH magazine, she strives to remain a proactive personality in the continual advancement of the profession. She has been defined as a motivated trendsetter and dependable colleague and is inspired by her true passion of helping others to achieve their personal goals.