How to help colorectal cancer patients prevent bedsores

In addition to suffering from the pain caused by cancer itself, colorectal cancer patients may also develop bedsores due to long-term bed rest, which aggravates their own pain and affects further treatment. Therefore, it is important to do a good job in preventing bedsores in colorectal cancer patients.

1. Proper lying position

Since patients need to stay in bed for a long time, it is important to help them choose the right lying position. Different lying positions will result in different skin pressure points. In the supine position, the pressure is mainly on the shoulder blades, elbows, sacrum, occipital tuberosity (the back of the head), and heels. In the side-lying position, the pressure is mainly on the ears, shoulders, elbows, hips, inner and outer sides of the knee joints, and inner and outer ankles. Families with good economic conditions can lay special air mattresses, which is helpful to reduce the local pressure on patients and prevent bedsores.

2. Appropriate local massage

When massaging, do not use your fingers, but use the palm's thenar and hypothenar muscles. Be careful not to create friction and shear force on the skin at the massage site. Massage each site for 3 minutes each time. If the skin is damaged and ulcers are infected, do not massage or treat it without authorization. Ask community medical staff to come to your home to assist in care to prevent further spread of the infection.

3. Keep your skin clean and dry

Patients with colorectal cancer may experience temporary incontinence of urine and feces. Be careful to prevent the skin from being irritated by dirt. If contaminated, the urine pad must be cleaned and replaced at any time to protect the skin from irritation. The bed should always be kept clean and dry, flat and free of debris. The contaminated bedding should be replaced in time. The body should be scrubbed frequently according to the patient's condition to keep the skin clean.