Cardinal Health System, Inc. Radiation Treatment faqs

Radiation FAQ's

Will I be radioactive?

At the end of your treatment, you do not need to be concerned about being radioactive. Your or your clothing are NOT in any way radioactive as a result of your radiation treatment. Friends and family do not need to worry about radiation exposure from you.

If you have a radioactive seed implant for prostate cancer (brachytherapy), there are commonly no restrictions regarding contact with children and pregnant women. The radiation oncology staff can discuss any specific questions regarding the seed implants. Educational material will also be provided.

Will I have to have any blood work taken?

Periodically, during your treatment course, the physician will order a blood test. Usually, our patients have their blood tests on Mondays. Periodically, there is a phlebotomist (blood drawer) in our department. If the physician wants you to have a blood test on a day when there is no phlebotomist, you will need to go to the outpatient area in the hospital. The blood test measures your hemoglobin and white blood cell count. It does not assess your response to treatment but allows us to monitor you closely for side effects. You will see the radiation oncologist once each week. Should needs arise on other days, there is a nurse or physician available to help you. Tell your therapist that you are having a problem and need to see the nurse or doctor.

Can I still do the things I am used to doing every day?

Most people are able to maintain their usual lifestyle while taking treatments. We encourage you to participate in your normal activities with your family and friends. If a situation arises where it is in your best interest to limit your activity, the doctor or nurse will discuss with you why these limitations are necessary.

Many patients ask if they will feel like driving themselves to and from treatment. It is best to ask your radiation oncologist at the time of your consultation.

It is important that all our patients have sufficient periods of rest and sleep. You may experience increasing fatigue as treatments progress. This fatigue is an expected reaction. Tiredness results from the interaction of the radiation with the cancer and your body. In addition, emotional distress can lead to fatigue. When the cancer cells of the body are destroyed by radiation, they give off waste products which build up in your blood. This accumulation of waste products can cause fatigue. After a period of time, the blood will clear itself of the waste and the feeling of fatigue will disappear. To help in the removal of these waste products, be sure to drink adequate amounts of liquids.

The radiation must pass through the skin of the treatment area on its way to the cancer cells. Because of this, skin cells become very sensitive. You might notice a tanning or redness of the skin in this area. The discoloration of the skin is a normal reaction to radiation. You may also notice the hair on the skin within the treatment area may disappear and perspiration (in the treatment area) may be diminished or absent.

Gentle cleansing of the skin is important. Use lukewarm water and a mild soap (such as Basis, Ivory, Purpose or Moisturel). Do not use a washcloth in the treatment area. To cleanse, gently massage the area with soapy fingers. Be sure to rinse the area thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry. Be careful not to smear the marks on your skin. The skin may become dry and itchy and peeling may occur. If this happens, ask the nurse for suggestions. Do not try home remedies or over-the-counter creams, lotions or talcum powders. You will be given skin care instructions specific to the area of the body being treated.

What if I start to lose weight?

A well-balanced diet while taking radiation therapy is important. As you progress in treatment, you may experience side effects which will require changes in your diet. As these side effects become apparent, the nurse or dietitian will instruct you in these dietary modifications.

One of the goals during radiation treatment is to maintain body weight or avoid extreme weight loss. Different side effects might occur, according to the area of your body being treated. It is important to eat a variety of foods each day. No one food contains all the nutrients necessary. The following are some tips that may help maintain good nutritional status. If you need further nutritional assistance, please ask and we will have a dietitian talk with you.

What do I do if I don’t have any appetite?

If your appetite is poor or you experience a feeling of early fullness, smaller and more frequent meals may help. Remember to make every bite count. Avoid low-calorie foods. Instead, choose foods high in calories and high in protein (i.e. milkshakes, nutritional supplements, cream soups). Be flexible with mealtimes, and eat the most when you are feeling the best. Keep a variety of ready-to-eat foods available for when you do feel like eating. This way you won’t tire yourself out by preparing the food which might decrease your appetite due to fatigue. Relax and enjoy your meals. Look for other ways to stimulate your appetite, such as light exercise and fresh air. If you need any further nutritional assistance, please ask and we will have a dietitian talk with you.

What do I do if I am having nausea and vomiting?

If you are experiencing nausea and/or vomiting, eat smaller amounts of food more often. Eat slowly, and chew the food well. Sip more fluids throughout the day (eight to 10 cups), but drink fewer fluids with meals to avoid a bloated feeling. Drink cool beverages, fruit ices and try ice chips. Eat in a well-ventilated area, and avoid eating in rooms that have odors that disagree with you. Eat cool and room-temperature foods. Avoid foods with a strong aroma which might be offensive. Bland, dry foods might be better tolerated. Also, avoid fatty, greasy or dried foods. Avoid overly sweet or hot foods. Rest sitting up for about an hour after meals. Loose clothing might be more comfortable at mealtime. If you need further nutritional assistance, please ask and we will have a dietitian talk with you.

What do I do if I just can’t eat?

If you have experienced taste changes, sore mouth, chewing difficulty or swallowing difficulty, you might be unable to eat adequate amounts of meat, especially beef and pork. Protein is an important nutrient during treatments, and therefore it is important to eat adequate amounts. Meats and chicken might be better tolerated if cut into small pieces, ground or put into soups, casseroles or meat salads.

Eggs, cheeses, cottage cheese and peanut butter are also good sources of protein. These foods may be eaten alone or mixed into recipes. Also, milk and other milk products are easy to eat and provide a good source of protein. Include milk instead of water in recipes whenever possible. Add non-fat dry milk powder to milk, soups, cereals and mashed potatoes to increase the protein content. Use instant breakfast powder or commercial nutritional supplements as an additional source of calories and protein. These might also be added to milkshakes to "boost" the calorie and protein content.

If you need any further nutritional assistance, please ask and we will have a dietitian talk with you.

It is important to provide a list of any medication you are taking for your present illness, as well as those drugs you have been taking for other conditions. Please include the dosage of the drugs and how often you are taking them. Continue to take your medication unless instructed not to by the doctor or nurse in the Radiation Oncology Department.

Discharge planning, follow up, Side-effect management.

While radiation therapy kills cancer cells, it also has some effect on normal cells in the treatment area. It is injury to the normal body cells that cause the side effects related to your treatment. Everyone receiving radiation therapy does not experience the same side effects, nor do the side effects feel the same in all individuals.

Radiation therapy is cumulative in effect. In other words, it generally takes several treatments before you notice any side effects. Your radiation oncologist and nurse will give you the help you need in dealing with these side effects. It is important to remember that most side effects are temporary and will gradually disappear once your treatments are finished. Be patient, and remember it will take time for your body to heal itself.

We encourage you to maintain your normal daily activity whenever possible. However, you may need to re-adjust your lifestyle to cope with some side effects of radiation therapy. You should pace yourself according to your energy level and allow yourself time to rest during the day. Remember, your body is working hard to rid itself of cancerous cells and needs more rest and care than usual.

The side effects a person experiences depends on the area of the body being treated, the treatment plan selected and the previous medical and emotional history of the patient. Your radiation oncologist will discuss the expected side effects with you prior to beginning treatment, and the side effects will be listed on the consent for treatment.

The Cancer Center

Ball Memorial Hospital

2401 W. University Ave.

Muncie, IN 47303

(765) 751-1449