When you have radiation treatment for cancer, your body goes through some changes.
About 2 weeks after your first treatment:
For weeks to months after radiation treatment, you may notice shortness of breath. You are more likely to notice when you are active. Contact your health care provider if you develop this symptom.
When you have radiation treatment, a health care provider draws colored markings on your skin. Do not remove them. These show where to aim the radiation. If they come off, do not redraw them. Tell your doctor if they come off. These must stay there until your treatments are done.
Take care of the treatment area:
Tell your doctor or nurse if you have any break or opening in your skin. Do not put heating pads or ice bags on the treatment area. Wear loose-fitting clothing.
You need to eat enough protein and calories to keep your weight up. See also: Eating extra calories when you are sick - adults
Tips to make eating easier:
Drink at least 4 to 6 glasses of liquid each day (not including coffee or tea, or other drinks that have caffeine in them).
Ask your doctor about liquid food supplements. These can help you get enough calories.
Do not drink alcohol. It will bother your throat. Do not eat very spicy foods, acidic foods, or foods that are very hot or cold.
If pills are hard to swallow, try crushing them and mixing them with some ice cream or another soft food.
Watch out for these signs of edema (swelling) in your arm.
See also: Lymphedema
Ask your doctor or nurse about exercises you can do to keep your arm moving freely.
Most people who get radiation treatment begin to feel tired after a few days. If you feel tired:
Try using a humidifier or vaporizer in your bedroom or main living area. Do not smoke cigarettes, cigars, or pipes. Do not chew tobacco.
Try sucking on sugarless mints and candy to add saliva to your mouth.
Mix one half teaspoon of salt and one quarter teaspoon of baking soda in 8 ounces of warm water. Gargle with this solution several times a day. Do not use store-bought mouthwashes or lozenges.
For a cough that does not go away:
Your doctor may check your blood counts regularly, especially if the radiation treatment area on your body is large.
Sharma RA, Vallis KA, McKenna WG. Basics of radiation therapy. In: Abeloff MD, Armitage JO, Niederhuber JE, Kastan MB, McKenna WG, eds. Abeloff’s Clinical Oncology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2008:chap 29.
Perry MC. Approach to the patient with cancer. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Cecil Medicine. 24th ed.Philadelphia,Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 182.
Silvestri GA, Jett JR. Clinical aspects of lung cancer. In: Mason RJ, Broaddus VC, Martin TR, et al. Murray& Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 5th ed.Philadelphia,Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2010:chap 47.
Updated by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director and Director of Didactic Curriculum, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington; and Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M. Health Solutions, Ebix, Inc.
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