Precautions for radiotherapy care of brain cancer patients

Brain cancer has complex clinical manifestations. In addition to meningeal irritation signs, there are also symptoms of other cranial nerves, spinal nerves or spinal nerve roots. Because meningeal cancer is a late-stage malignant tumor with a poor prognosis, there is currently no satisfactory treatment. Most of them use intrathecal injections of methotrexate and cytarabine or radiotherapy, but they can only relieve symptoms and prolong survival. At the same time, multiple large doses of chemotherapy drugs given intrathecally will produce severe neurological toxicity. The effect of radiotherapy on this is not certain. So how can brain cancer patients get better treatment during radiotherapy? Experts introduce the following points:

① Provide psychological care. Patients should not worry too much about hair loss caused by radiotherapy. Hair will grow back slowly after radiotherapy is stopped.

② Pay attention to supplementing high-vitamin, high-nutrition, light, and easily digestible foods. You can make your own Ophiopogon japonicus and black plum drink, snow mint drink, five-juice drink, and bamboo leaf rice porridge.

③ Pay attention to oral hygiene, and rinse your mouth with 2% soda after meals and before going to bed. Put 4 soda tablets in 1000 ml of water, or rinse your mouth with 4% compound boric acid solution. If white spots are ulcerated and painful, 0.5%-1% dicaine or 2% lidocaine 1-2 drops can be applied to the affected area to relieve pain; or 0.5%-1% alum solution can be used to rinse the mouth before meals, which can not only relieve pain, but also have the effect of astringency, protection of the sore surface, and hemostasis.

④ The irradiated skin should be kept clean and any chemical or physical stimulation is prohibited, such as cold, heat, acid, alkali, iodized oil, friction, trauma, ultraviolet radiation, external adhesive plasters, etc.

⑤ Avoid direct sunlight on the affected area and wear a soft sun hat.

⑥ If erythema or dry reaction occurs locally after irradiation, you can apply Sihuang ointment or Vaseline ointment externally; if a wet reaction occurs, you can lightly apply borneol, egg white, cod liver oil, or hydrocortisone to the affected area.

⑦ Carefully warn patients that the end of radiotherapy does not mean the end of treatment, and regular follow-up examinations are required.

The above is a few points about how to take care of brain cancer patients during radiotherapy. In addition, I hope that brain cancer patients will maintain an optimistic attitude during treatment, so that they can get better results. If you have other questions, please consult our online experts, who will answer your questions in detail. Feihua Health Network wishes you good health!