Do patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma need targeted therapy and how should they be cared for?

Targeted therapy is a very common method in the clinical treatment of many cancer diseases. Does nasopharyngeal carcinoma need targeted therapy? How to care for it?

Do patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma need targeted therapy?

Need. More and more molecular targeted drugs are used in NPC combined with radiotherapy, which can specifically block the signal transduction pathways that play a key role in tumor cell growth, reduce the impact on normal cells, and improve the patient's radiotherapy survival rate and quality of life.

The receptor epidermal growth factor EGFR is overexpressed in 95% to 100% of head and neck tumors and has become an important target for targeted therapy of head and neck tumors. The FDA has approved the EGFR cetuximab erbitux monoclonal antibody inhibitor as a combination therapy for head and neck tumors in patients who have never been treated for head and neck tumors.

The results of domestic Phase III clinical trials showed that toximab combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy increased the local control rate of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients to 99% without any toxic side effects.

How to care?

1. Mental care for nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients: relieve mental stress and eliminate the adverse consequences of tension, anxiety and fear. Please introduce treatment experience, explain tumors and treatment knowledge to patients, and enhance patients' confidence in overcoming cancer.

2. Skin care for nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients: Keep the wild skin clean and dry, avoid using alkaline soaps, ointments, cosmetics, prevent mechanical stimulation, friction and scratching, avoid hot compresses, apply peppermint starch for local itching, apply hydrogenated oil for slight exudation or rupture

3. Oral care for nasopharyngeal cancer patients: Pay attention to oral hygiene, brush your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush, and rinse your mouth with saline or Dobel's solution. It is best to brush your teeth and rinse your mouth after meals and before going to bed. Before radiotherapy, you must clean your teeth and treat dental diseases to avoid a decrease in local resistance after radiotherapy. If you extract your teeth, it will cause extensive bone necrosis.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients also need targeted therapy during the treatment process, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients should also pay attention to mental, skin and oral care preparation in post-treatment care.