A nurse is teaching a client who has esophageal cancer and is scheduled to start radiation therapy. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in the teaching?

Choice A reason: Clients receiving radiation therapy should use gentle methods to clean the treatment area, such as a soft washcloth, to avoid irritating the skin. The skin in the treatment field is highly sensitive and prone to breakdown, so gentle care is essential. Choice B reason: Dye markings are used to guide radiation therapy and must remain intact throughout the course of treatment. Removing them would interfere with accurate targeting of the radiation beam. Choice C reason: While avoiding sun exposure is generally good advice, the specific instruction for radiation therapy is to protect the treatment area from trauma and irritation. Sun avoidance is important, but the more direct teaching point is gentle cleansing. Choice D reason: Clothing should not rub or irritate the treatment area. Loose, soft clothing is recommended, but simply wearing clothing over the area is not the key teaching point. The priority is protecting the skin from irritation and maintaining the markings.