Abstract

Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) patients could be suffered from while being treated by radiation therapy and these complications could have severely affects with the treatment outcomes and reduce qualify of life.
Aims: Study some common complications in NPC pafients being treated with radiation therapy
and evaluate the results of nursing care for acute local complications in these patienfs.
Method: 48 NPC pafients were treated by linear accelerator radiation at the Nuclear Medicine and Oncology Center, Bach Mai hospital. Prospective, invasive study.
Results: 100% patients had acute complications at different levels after being radiated 3-4 weeks (30 — 40Gy), radiodermatitis 62,5%, mucositis 58%, loss of taste 37,5%, xerostomia 50%. After nursing care 5 weeks, the radiodermatitis grade 2 reduced from 77,1% to 0%, mucositis grade 2 reduced from 37,5% to 6,3%, xerostomia grade 3: from 33,3% to 18,7%, loss of taste grade 2 from 48% to 10,4%.
Conclusion: There were high incidences of skin and epithelial layer acute complications in
NPC patients being treated by radiation. The application of local nursing care has reduced these complications, promoting the treatment outcomes and quality of life for the NPC patients.