During radiation, avoid irritating treated skin (no harsh soaps, tight clothes, sun, heat/cold packs, scratching, shaving, or applying unapproved creams/lotions), don't remove treatment markings, avoid smoking/alcohol, spicy/salty foods (if head/neck/GI), and don't use aloe vera; always ask your team about sunscreens, moisturizers, and other products, and protect yourself from close contact with others if advised.
Avoid raw vegetables and fruits, and other hard, dry foods such as chips or pretzels. It's also best to avoid salty, spicy or acidic foods if you are experiencing these symptoms. Your care team can recommend nutrient-based oral care solutions if you are experiencing mucositis or mouth sores caused by cancer treatment.
For reducing radiation exposure, there are 3 principals: time, distance, and shielding.
avoid shaving the area if possible and do not use laser, wax, or hair-removal creams. avoid using heat or cold packs on the area. try wearing loose-fitting clothes made from natural fibres such as cotton or silk, and avoid tight bands, ties or straps on the sore area.
Early side effects
They're usually gone within a few weeks after treatment ends. The most common early side effects of radiation treatment are: Fatigue (feeling very tired) Skin changes.
Radiotherapy can make people feel tired. Tiredness may get worse as treatment goes on. You might be more tired if you have to travel to the hospital every day or if you are having radiotherapy alongside other treatments, such as surgery or chemotherapy. Some people are able to continue with their daily activities.
Standard Range of 15-35 Treatment Sessions. Most people get between 15 and 35 radiation sessions. These sessions happen over weeks, giving the body time to heal. The exact number depends on the cancer and the patient's health.
Side effects often build up slowly during treatment and it could be a few days or weeks before you notice anything. Often the side effects are worse at the end of treatment, or even 1–2 weeks afterwards, because it takes time for the healthy cells to recover from radiation.
The guiding principle of radiation safety is "ALARA." ALARA stands for "as low as reasonably achievable." ALARA means avoiding exposure to radiation that does not have a direct benefit to you, even if the dose is small.
The annual limit for radiation exposure for a member of the public is 1 mSv per annum or 1000 µSv per annum. If you are designated a radiation worker then you can receive up to twenty times this.
They are the:
Both dose and dose rate contribute to the severity of acute radiation syndrome. The effects of dose fractionation or rest periods before repeated exposure also shift the LD50 dose upwards.
Bathe or shower only once a day. Bathe for only a short period of time, just long enough to cleanse yourself. Soap and water can cause your skin to become more dry. Do not shave the treatment area.
Avoid spicy foods or acidic fruit, such as oranges or grapefruit, that may inflame sores.
Eat a variety of protein-rich foods that are low in fat. Include seafood, lean meat and poultry, Greek yogurts, eggs, beans, soy products, and unsalted nuts and seeds.
An average loss of about 10% of pretherapy weight in patients undergoing radiotherapy has been documented.
It is important to eat a diet that is high in protein and healthy fats while undergoing radiation therapy. Protein helps maintain muscle mass and supports tissue healing, while healthy fats help lower inflammation and support immune function.
This notation is defined as Lethal Dose 50/30: the whole body acute dose that results in lethality to 50% of an exposed population within 30 days after irradiation. The Chart shows LD50/30 ranges for a human population either with or without medical intervention.
Preparing for Treatment
External radiotherapy is a painless process that typically takes 30-45 minutes, including set-up time, but the actual treatment only takes 2-5 minutes. The patient lies on a treatment table and is positioned under the radiation machine while special shields or blocks are used to protect healthy tissues.
Types of cancer that are treated with radiation therapy
Brachytherapy is most often used to treat cancers of the head and neck, breast, cervix, prostate, and eye. A type of brachytherapy called radioembolization may be used to treat liver cancer or cancer that has spread to the liver.
During your course of treatment or after treatments you may have some pain. You may experience some of these side effects depending on the treatment area and how much radiation you are receiving: Skin sensitivity (pain or discomfort) in the treatment area. Developing a sunburn effect in the treatment area is common.
While chemotherapy aims to keep the disease from spreading, radiation focuses on particular cells. Chemotherapy can also affect the entire body, while radiation repairs only the affected cells. Both treatments can cause side effects, including hair loss, nausea and fatigue.