Nursing methods during radiotherapy for bone cancer

Radiotherapy can strongly affect the reproductive capacity of bone cancer cells. It can be used as an adjuvant therapy before and after surgery, which is beneficial for controlling lesions and relieving pain, reducing the local recurrence rate, and can also be used alone for bone cancer with extensive late-stage lesions or those that are sensitive to radiotherapy. Bone cancer patients should take the following care during radiotherapy:

1. Local skin care

During radiotherapy for bone cancer, the skin of the irradiated area should be carefully cared for and kept clean. If there is skin itching, some cod liver oil ointment can be applied to relieve the symptoms. The irradiated area should also be protected from friction, sun exposure, and irritation from highly alkaline soaps to prevent skin ulceration and secondary infection.

2. Care for damaged skin

Damaged skin in the irradiation field is prone to infection. Once a local infection occurs, systemic and local antibacterial drugs should be used in time. If the damaged skin has scabbed, do not pick off the scab with your hands, and let it fall off naturally.

3. Symptomatic care

Bone cancer patients with severe systemic reactions during radiotherapy should be given symptomatic treatment, such as fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and leukopenia. Mild cases can be relieved with some symptomatic drugs. For example, for nausea and vomiting, you can take metoclopramide. For severe diarrhea, you can take antidiarrheal drugs such as belladonna. You can also take some Chinese medicine appropriately to strengthen the body and eliminate evil. Patients with severe side effects of radiotherapy need to inform the doctor in time so that radiotherapy can be terminated in time or other treatment methods can be considered.

4. Diet care

In order to reduce the side effects of radiotherapy, bone cancer patients should rest more and eat a diet consisting mainly of easily digestible, nutritious, and non-irritating foods.