Causes of difficulty swallowing in cancer patients

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Patients with cancer undergoing treatments that can cause dysphagia. Difficulty swallowing in cancer patients can be a short-term radiation side effect of a treatment, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy to the throat or chest area.

1. What is dysphagia?

Dysphagia, also known as swallowing disorder, is a condition in which the stages of eating and swallowing, including from the mouth, pharynx, to the esophagus, are impaired, a disorder that makes the patient spend a lot of time and effort to push food. or liquid from the mouth down to the stomach.
Although dysphagia is not considered a pathology and does not cause serious symptoms, it can reduce the patient's ability to absorb nutrients, impair physical strength, and greatly affect daily activities. as well as quality of life.

2. Manifestations of dysphagia in cancer patients

Swallowing food choking, coughing, choking, even vomiting when trying to swallow Weight loss Uncontrollable drooling or feeling of having too much saliva Little or even no saliva in the mouth The inside of the mouth is red or swelling A sore in the mouth Sore throat or pain in the middle of the chest when swallowing A feeling that food is stuck in the neck, not reaching the stomach There are patches or a white film covering the inside of the mouth.

3. Causes of difficulty swallowing in cancer patients

When the patient has health problems such as cancer, it can cause difficulty swallowing. Caused by motor dysfunction, the information from the nerves to perform the act of swallowing sent from the brain does not reach the esophagus. Difficulty swallowing is often a secondary consequence of patients suffering from diseases or injuries of neurological origin, in adults such as stroke, brain stroke, neurological disorders, cancer, etc. Structural, psychological, postoperative, infants born or due to treatment. Other causes: Due to factors that interfere with food during swallowing such as large food sizes, foreign bodies, tumors in the esophagus, nasopharyngeal cancer, oral cancer or people with narrowing of the esophagus. In addition, cancer patients may have difficulty swallowing as a side effect of radiation therapy. Common side effects include:
After chemotherapy, radiation or targeted treatment of the head and neck area, many patients develop mouth sores or pain when swallowing. Decreased salivation dry mouth after radiation therapy to the head and neck causing difficulty swallowing Fibrosis, scarring, or hardening of the pharynx, esophagus, mouth Infection of the mouth or esophagus Swelling of the esophagus or pharynx or narrowing, which can occur after radiation therapy or surgery. Oral mucositis causes pain, soreness, or redness in the throat, esophagus, or mouth. Other symptoms after radiation therapy such as a dry throat or excessive salivation, hiccups, heartburn and indigestion can also cause difficulty swallowing.

4. How to improve dysphagia in cancer patients?

To improve swallowing difficulties in cancer patients, patients should eat foods that are light, soft, and smooth but contain a lot of energy and protein (such as soups, meat porridge, casseroles, puddings, ice cream, milk drinks). , yogurt ). Feed with a spoon, eat small pieces, eat slowly and swallow them all before taking the next bite. Use a straw to eat soft, liquid foods.

Offer the patient food in a solid, viscous, optional liquid form such as a fruit smoothie, or a drink/soup with added thickeners as these are easier to swallow than the dilute solution. Finely chop or grind, puree the food to soften, the patient minimizes the need for each other. For dry food, it is recommended to add water to blend together. Choose cool foods and eat cold or cold foods, sore throats, cold foods to help relieve pain Divide into small meals and frequent snacks so that the patient can eat more easily Do not use alcohol and spicy, hot foods and drinks Avoid foods that need to be chewed a lot. Avoid using highly acidic foods, such as oranges, lemons, carbonated soft drinks. Do not eat hard, dry, crunchy foods such as cookies, nuts and chips. The patient eats in an upright sitting position, perpendicular to the hips, knees and feet touching the floor, not letting the legs hang. Stay in this position for 30 minutes after a meal for easy digestion and avoid reflux. In case, the patient cannot eat enough regular foods to meet the nutritional needs of the body, the doctor may prescribe the patient to use nutritional fluids rich in energy and protein through the intestines, Do not take it by mouth with a nebulizer such as:
Use a nebulizer from the mouth to the stomach Nasal to stomach tube If it is difficult to swallow due to mouth pain, the doctor may prescribe numbing gel or pain reliever such as solid lidocaine or give the patient a pain reliever before eating.

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