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) Encourage spicy foods
b) Promote the use of alcohol-based mouthwash
c) Advocate for hot food and drinks
d) Recommend bland, soft foods

Answer 1

The nurse should advise the client to consume bland, soft foods to help ease the discomfort of stomatitis from radiation therapy and avoid alcohol-based mouthwash. Special alcohol-free mouthwashes can aid in reducing dry mouth and cavities.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should recommend bland, soft foods as a dietary intervention for a client with stomatitis undergoing external radiation for laryngeal cancer. Foods that are easy to chew and swallow can help alleviate discomfort caused by stomatitis, which often results from radiation therapy. It is important to avoid alcohol-based mouthwash as alcohol can aggravate the mouth's delicate tissues, increasing dryness, discomfort, and potentially the risk of further oral infections.

Instead, the nurse can suggest specialized mouthwashes designed to reduce dry mouth and cavities without containing alcohol. Incorporating measures to manage other side effects of radiation therapy, like utilizing prescribed medications for pain and nausea, supports overall patient comfort and well-being. Since dietary choices can affect cancer recovery, limiting the intake of alcohol and salty or processed foods is also advisable for long-term cancer prevention.