Sore throat and increased difficulty swallowing during radiation therapy may be due to radiation esophagitis. Radiation esophagitis often appears about 2 to 3 weeks after the start of treatment and may persist until 1 to 2 months after the end of radiation therapy, with edema in mild cases and even malnutrition in severe cases that interfere with eating.
To deal with radiation esophagitis, it is important to prepare before treatment, and receiving nutritional interventions in advance can help avoid malnutrition.
Esophageal edema and difficulty in swallowing worsen after radiotherapy. If the pain is mild, surface anesthetic solution or lactated cod liver oil can be used to protect the esophageal mucosa, while avoiding rough, hot and spicy foods; in severe cases, esophageal mucosal protective agents and pain medications can be given to improve the pain. After the radiotherapy is over, the pain will usually be gradually relieved.
Co-written by: Dr. You Jing, Peking University Cancer Hospital