What are the causes of coughing up blood during laryngeal cancer radiotherapy

Radiotherapy for laryngeal cancer In recent decades, with the improvement of radiation technology and equipment, radiotherapy has become one of the main treatment methods for clinical laryngeal cancer. For some early patients, radiotherapy alone can be used to achieve the purpose of cure, or it can be used as an auxiliary treatment before and after surgery to increase and consolidate the treatment effect and make up for the shortcomings of surgical treatment.

Laryngeal cancer is mainly squamous cell carcinoma, which is generally more sensitive to radiation. The better the degree of differentiation, the less sensitive it is to radiotherapy. In addition, patients with proliferative tumors have abundant blood circulation and are sensitive to radiation. Patients with shallow ulcers or ulcers on the surface of the tumor are moderately sensitive, while patients with infiltrative tumors without ulcers are less sensitive to radiotherapy. In terms of the location of the tumor, tumors located on the upper part or edge of the vocal cords are most sensitive to radiation and have the best effect of radiotherapy. Patients located in the subglottic area are generally not treated with radiotherapy.

Treating dental problems during radiation therapy can be a problem, which is why doctors ask their patients to keep their teeth and gums as healthy as possible before treatment. They will ask patients to have a comprehensive dental examination and treatment before treatment. It is also very necessary to visit the dentist regularly because the mouth is more sensitive to radiation and prone to inflammation during radiation therapy.

In some cases, the mouth may become tender during treatment. Some patients may have mouth sores. The doctor may recommend special mouth rinses to numb the oral mucosa to relieve discomfort. Radiation therapy for laryngeal cancer can cause changes in saliva and may reduce saliva production. Because normal saliva production protects the teeth, tooth decay can become a problem after radiation therapy. Good oral care will help keep teeth and gums healthy and the patient comfortable. Patients should do their best to keep their teeth clean.

If brushing is difficult with conventional methods, patients can use gauze cloth or a special toothbrush with a sponge head instead of a regular bristle brush to brush their teeth. Oral rinsing with diluted hydrogen peroxide, saline, or soda water can keep the mouth clean to prevent tooth damage. Using a fluoride toothpaste or fluoride mouthwash can help reduce tooth decay, and the dentist can recommend a fluoridation program to maintain oral health. If the reduction in saliva causes dryness in the mouth, drinking plenty of water is helpful, and some patients use special sprays (artificial saliva) to reduce the dryness.

Patients who receive radiation therapy instead of surgery do not have a tracheostomy and breathe and speak as usual, although radiation therapy can cause changes in the voice. The patient's voice will become weaker each evening, and it is not uncommon for climate change to affect the voice. Voice changes and the feeling of a foreign body in the throat when swallowing are caused by swelling caused by the radiation. Treatment may also cause sore throat, and the doctor may recommend medication to relieve pain and swallowing discomfort.

During radiation therapy, you may become very tired, especially in the last few weeks of treatment. While rest is important, doctors often advise their patients to be as active as possible. It is common for the skin in the radiation field to become red and dry after treatment. You should keep your skin out of direct sunlight and wear clothes that avoid rubbing against the affected skin.

During radiotherapy, the hair on the skin of the radiation field usually stops growing. If this is the case, please do not shave it. Good skin care is essential at this time. Patients should keep their skin as clean as possible and should not apply anything to the skin surface before radiotherapy. Do not use any lotions or ointments without the doctor's permission.

Some people may complain that radiation therapy hurts their tongue. They may lose their sense of taste or smell or have a bitter taste in their mouth that may be alleviated by drinking large amounts of fluids. Your doctor and nurse can suggest ways to deal with these problems. It is important to remember that although the side effects of radiation therapy may not go away completely, most of them will gradually subside and you will recover after radiation therapy.