What are the sequelae of radiation for nasopharyngeal carcinoma? What should we pay attention to after radiotherapy?

Although radiation can treat diseases to a certain extent, it still has great harm to the human body. What are the sequelae of nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiation? What should we pay attention to after radiotherapy? Let us introduce it.

Radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma is the radiation therapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Although the adjacent structures of the nasopharynx have a high tolerance to radiation, there are still some sequelae caused by radiotherapy, especially in those patients who have enough or excessive radiotherapy. Radiotherapy sequelae include radiation dry mouth, radiation damage to the nervous system, etc.

Common sequelae of radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma:

① Systemic reactions: including fatigue, dizziness, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, tastelessness or odor changes in the mouth, insomnia or drowsiness, etc. Some patients may experience blood changes, especially leukopenia. Although the degree varies, it can usually be overcome and completed with symptomatic treatment. Take vitamin B1, B6, C, metoclopramide, etc. if necessary. 3×109/L suspend radiotherapy.

②Local reactions: including skin, mucous membranes and salivary glands.

What should I pay attention to after radiotherapy?

Patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma who are undergoing radiotherapy should pay attention to adjusting their diet. The continued growth of cancer cells consumes a large amount of nutrients. In addition, radiation damage to the oral mucosal salivary glands after radiotherapy, as well as nausea, vomiting, and abnormal taste, can affect appetite and, in severe cases, lead to nutritional metabolic disorders.

After radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma, patients should pay attention to psychological counseling. They can find someone to talk to, cry loudly, and don't keep unhappy things in their stomachs. They should learn self-psychological counseling, self-regulate their mental state, learn some health care knowledge, learn how to arrange their life after the disease, and understand the effect of radiotherapy.

After radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma, some appropriate activities, such as deep breathing, outdoor walking, slowly rotating the neck back and forth and left and right hands, and practicing exercises with open mouth, such as using a small round plastic bottle or a smooth small log, to massage the mandibular temporal joint can improve the quality of life.