Strict care is very important for nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients after radiotherapy

Radiotherapy and chemotherapy are one of the effective methods for treating NPC. Some patients also use radiotherapy as an adjuvant treatment after surgical treatment to avoid secondary recurrence or metastasis. Regardless of the former or the latter, NPC patients should be strictly cared for during or after radiotherapy. This is because even after radiotherapy, residual radiation will continue in the body for about 1 month, so strict care is important.

① Patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma should insist on gargling during radiotherapy. They can use homemade light salt water 4 to 5 times a day, or ask the doctor to prescribe some mouthwash.

② As the nasopharyngeal mucosa will become congested and swollen after exposure to radiation, patients often experience dry nasal mucosa, nasal congestion, increased and sticky nasal secretions, and severe cases may affect rest and sleep. At this time, patients can use cod liver oil or compound peppermint oil to drip their noses 3 to 4 times a day under the guidance of a doctor to protect the nasal mucosa.

③ The skin in the radiation field should not be scrubbed with soap, rough towel or hot water. At the same time, you should also avoid direct sunlight when going out. If there is peeling, do not tear it or scratch it with your hands.

④ Radiotherapy can cause dysfunction of the head, neck and mandibular temporal joints, sometimes causing difficulty in opening the mouth and limited neck movement. Therefore, during radiotherapy, patients can perform some appropriate exercises according to their physical condition, such as deep breathing, outdoor walking, and slow rotation of the neck back and forth. After radiotherapy, they should do mouth opening exercises, such as holding a small round plastic bottle or a smooth small log in their mouth, and massage the mandibular temporal joints.

⑤ In terms of diet, be careful to avoid spicy and irritating foods, such as chili peppers, fried foods, etc. During radiotherapy, you can drink more water, such as American ginseng tea, carrot and water chestnut water, etc. American ginseng has the effect of clearing heat and replenishing qi. It can be sliced ​​and rinsed with water, or used as an ingredient in soup.