Nutritional management for late complications of radiotherapy

Abstract Late complications of radiotherapy can include a variety of issues, such as xerostomia, dysphagia, taste changes, digestive and absorption dysfunction. These late complications can seriously impact the nutritional status and quality of life of patients following radiotherapy, and may even a...

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Main Authors: Jiahua lyu, Yue Su, Hansong Bai, Hao Kuang, Churong Li, Xiumei Zheng, Long Liang, Lu li, Diou Cheng, Tao Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2024-11-01
Series:Holistic Integrative Oncology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s44178-024-00110-y
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author Jiahua lyu
Yue Su
Hansong Bai
Hao Kuang
Churong Li
Xiumei Zheng
Long Liang
Lu li
Diou Cheng
Tao Li
author_facet Jiahua lyu
Yue Su
Hansong Bai
Hao Kuang
Churong Li
Xiumei Zheng
Long Liang
Lu li
Diou Cheng
Tao Li
author_sort Jiahua lyu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Late complications of radiotherapy can include a variety of issues, such as xerostomia, dysphagia, taste changes, digestive and absorption dysfunction. These late complications can seriously impact the nutritional status and quality of life of patients following radiotherapy, and may even adversely affect tumor control and patient survival. Comprehensive nutritional management strategies should be implemented to address these late complications. For radiation-induced xerostomia, salivary stimulant drugs, saliva substitutes, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy have demonstrated efficacy in alleviating dry mouth symptoms. The management of post-radiation trismus remains challenging, with functional training, including active jaw exercises, passive motor devices, and splints, being the primary interventions. In the case of radiation-induced dysphagia, a multidisciplinary team approach is recommended, incorporating malnutrition risk assessment, personalized nutritional treatment, nursing care, rehabilitation training, and patient education. Protecting normal organs, such as the tongue and oral cavity, during radiotherapy planning can help prevent and mitigate taste changes, which can be further managed with zinc supplements, oral care, and lactoferrin supplementation. For post-radiation digestive and absorption dysfunction, a comprehensive assessment of the patient's nutritional status, site of gastrointestinal injury, and potential complications (e.g., bleeding, perforation) is crucial in guiding the selection of appropriate nutritional support, ranging from enteral nutrition as the first-line approach to supplemental or even exclusive parenteral nutrition. Surgical intervention may be necessary in some cases. By implementing these multifaceted nutritional management strategies, healthcare professionals can optimize the care of cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy and mitigate the adverse impact of late radiation complications on their overall well-being and treatment outcomes.
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spelling doaj-art-c369d161ae3d46518d710fae7a519b892025-08-20T02:49:19ZengSpringerHolistic Integrative Oncology2731-45292024-11-01311810.1007/s44178-024-00110-yNutritional management for late complications of radiotherapyJiahua lyu0Yue Su1Hansong Bai2Hao Kuang3Churong Li4Xiumei Zheng5Long Liang6Lu li7Diou Cheng8Tao Li9Radiation Department, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaRadiation Department, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaRadiation Department, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaRadiation Department, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaRadiation Department, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaRadiation Department, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaRadiation Department, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaRadiation Department, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaRadiation Department, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaRadiation Department, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaAbstract Late complications of radiotherapy can include a variety of issues, such as xerostomia, dysphagia, taste changes, digestive and absorption dysfunction. These late complications can seriously impact the nutritional status and quality of life of patients following radiotherapy, and may even adversely affect tumor control and patient survival. Comprehensive nutritional management strategies should be implemented to address these late complications. For radiation-induced xerostomia, salivary stimulant drugs, saliva substitutes, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy have demonstrated efficacy in alleviating dry mouth symptoms. The management of post-radiation trismus remains challenging, with functional training, including active jaw exercises, passive motor devices, and splints, being the primary interventions. In the case of radiation-induced dysphagia, a multidisciplinary team approach is recommended, incorporating malnutrition risk assessment, personalized nutritional treatment, nursing care, rehabilitation training, and patient education. Protecting normal organs, such as the tongue and oral cavity, during radiotherapy planning can help prevent and mitigate taste changes, which can be further managed with zinc supplements, oral care, and lactoferrin supplementation. For post-radiation digestive and absorption dysfunction, a comprehensive assessment of the patient's nutritional status, site of gastrointestinal injury, and potential complications (e.g., bleeding, perforation) is crucial in guiding the selection of appropriate nutritional support, ranging from enteral nutrition as the first-line approach to supplemental or even exclusive parenteral nutrition. Surgical intervention may be necessary in some cases. By implementing these multifaceted nutritional management strategies, healthcare professionals can optimize the care of cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy and mitigate the adverse impact of late radiation complications on their overall well-being and treatment outcomes.https://doi.org/10.1007/s44178-024-00110-yNutritional managementLate complicationsRadiotherapy
spellingShingle Jiahua lyu
Yue Su
Hansong Bai
Hao Kuang
Churong Li
Xiumei Zheng
Long Liang
Lu li
Diou Cheng
Tao Li
Nutritional management for late complications of radiotherapy
Holistic Integrative Oncology
Nutritional management
Late complications
Radiotherapy
title Nutritional management for late complications of radiotherapy
title_full Nutritional management for late complications of radiotherapy
title_fullStr Nutritional management for late complications of radiotherapy
title_full_unstemmed Nutritional management for late complications of radiotherapy
title_short Nutritional management for late complications of radiotherapy
title_sort nutritional management for late complications of radiotherapy
topic Nutritional management
Late complications
Radiotherapy
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s44178-024-00110-y
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AT churongli nutritionalmanagementforlatecomplicationsofradiotherapy
AT xiumeizheng nutritionalmanagementforlatecomplicationsofradiotherapy
AT longliang nutritionalmanagementforlatecomplicationsofradiotherapy
AT luli nutritionalmanagementforlatecomplicationsofradiotherapy
AT dioucheng nutritionalmanagementforlatecomplicationsofradiotherapy
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