Objective To explore the effect of home-based swallowing training and food guidance in hypopharyngeal cancer patients. Methods A total of 60 patients to receive surgery for hypopharyngeal cancer were divided based on the admission period into a control group (n=30),who received routine nursing, and an intervention group (n=30), who were given home-based swallowing training and food guidance. Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) and Water-Swallowing Test were used to evaluate swallowing function；swallowing-related quality of life was assessed by the MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI), and nutritional status was measured by body mass index (BMI). Results The scores of FOIS, and MDADI, BMI values at 30 days postoperatively in the intervention group were significantly higher than those in the control group, and the positive rate of water-swallowing test in the intervention group was lower than that in the control group （P＜0.05, P＜0.01）. Conclusion Home-based swallowing training and food guidance could enhance the post-operative swallowing function and nutritional status of patients with hypopharyngeal cancer.