Question

A nurse is planning dietary interventions for a client who is prescribed external radiation for laryngeal cancer. the client reports manifestations of stomatitis. which of the following interventions should the nurse include?

A) Provide meals at room temperature.
B) Offer the client additional seasonings for food.
C) Instruct the client to eat citrus fruits at the beginning of the meal.
D) Encourage the client to drink warm tomato juice in place of high-protein supplements.

Answer 1

To assist a client with stomatitis from laryngeal cancer radiation therapy, meals should be at room temperature, avoid irritants like additional seasonings or acidic foods, and replace warm acidic drinks with high-protein supplements. The goal is to minimize oral discomfort while maintaining nutritional intake.

Step-by-step explanation:

A nurse planning dietary interventions for a client with laryngeal cancer and experiencing stomatitis due to external radiation should consider several strategies. Since patients might have oral mucositis from radiation therapy leading to painful ulcers and inflammation, it is important to take a gentle approach to nutrition.

• Provide meals at room temperature, as extreme temperatures can aggravate stomatitis.
• Avoid additional seasonings, citrus fruits, and acidic juices like tomato juice which can irritate sore mouth tissues.
• High-protein supplements are generally encouraged, but these should not be warm as it may cause discomfort.
• Instruct the client to avoid alcohol, salty, and pickled foods which can exacerbate mouth discomfort and have a potential to increase cancer risk.

Overall, the goal is to minimize further irritation while ensuring nutritional needs are met, especially since some side effects of radiation therapy include gastrointestinal disturbances and a potential loss of appetite.