When you attend for your CT planning scan and daily treatment, your radiographers will ask you to empty your bladder. They will then ask you to drink 500ml of water. This helps to ensure you have a comfortably full bladder.
By having a full bladder, a portion of your small bowel can be pushed out of the radiation field. This may decrease your chances and severity of diarrhea. You can ask your health care team why it is important to have a full bladder for treatment.
It is important to drink plenty of fluids, at least 2 litres a day if possible.
Your health care team wants your bladder to be comfortably full for your CT scan and radiation treatments. When the bladder is full, the small intestines are pushed up and out of the pelvis area. This helps to lower the risk of diarrhea and other side effects.
In this protocol the patient has to first pass the urine 1hour before his/her treatment, and then he/she has to drink 500ml of water and wait for 30mins so that the bladder will become full. And the patient is advised not to pass the urine until the end of the treatment for that very day [6].
Patient is allowed to drink water between meals (beginning a minimum of 30 minutes after meals). Oral care must be done prior to consuming water. Patient should sit upright and use appropriate swallowing strategies.
Try to have a bowel movement prior to each radiation treatment. Doing so reduces the amount of gas and stool in the treatment area which is important for the delivery of the radiation. A tap water enema may help you stimulate a bowel movement.
Don't wear tight clothing over the treatment area. It's important not to rub, scrub or scratch any sensitive spots. Also avoid putting anything that is very hot or very cold—such as heating pads or ice packs—on your treated skin.
You'll be asked to undress above the waist and may be given a gown to wear. It can be helpful to wear a top that's easy to take off and put on. You may be able to request female radiographers if you would prefer. You'll lie down on the treatment couch with your arms or arm above your head.
Radiotherapy with the aim of curing cancer usually lasts between 1 to 7 weeks. For radiotherapy to relieve symptoms, you might have anything between a single treatment to 2 weeks of treatment. It might be longer than this. Your doctor will tell you how many treatments you'll have.
If queasy feeling after radiation, try not eating for a few hours before treatment and a few hours after. Eat six small meals a day, rather than three larger meals. Avoid greasy, fried, fatty or spicy foods. Drink and eat beverages and foods when they are at or below room temperature.
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.
Radiation therapy to the pelvis (including reproductive organs, the bladder, colon and rectum) can irritate the bladder and urinary tract. These problems often start several weeks after radiation therapy begins and go away several weeks after treatment has been completed.
Skin changes usually occur one to two weeks after your treatment begins and may last one to two weeks after your last treatment. You may shower or bathe throughout your radiation therapy. Your nurse will recommend a mild soap for you to use. It is important to keep skin folds clean and dry.
Loss of appetite
Feeling sick and tired during radiotherapy can make you lose your appetite, which could lead to weight loss. But it's important to try to eat healthily and maintain your weight during treatment. Tell your care team if you do not feel you're eating enough.
The most common early side effects are fatigue (feeling tired) and skin changes. Other early side effects usually are related to the area being treated, such as hair loss and mouth problems when radiation treatment is given to this area. Late side effects can take months or even years to develop.
For example, a patient receiving radiation therapy may be fatigued during the day and take extended naps. During active treatment, this can be helpful. But they may develop a habit of continuing to take naps, which can affect their ability to fall asleep at night.
Flush the toilet twice after each use, and wash your hands well after using the toilet. Use separate utensils and towels. Drink extra fluids to flush the radioactive material out of your body. No kissing or sexual contact (often for at least a week).
Nausea and vomiting can be a common side effect of external radiation therapy, especially if the treatment area includes the stomach and abdomen. It can also happen as a general side effect regardless of the area being treated. Radiation sickness usually goes away a few weeks after radiation therapy is finished.
After surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy, extra protein is usually needed to heal tissues and help fight infection. Good sources of protein include fish, poultry, lean red meat, eggs, low-fat dairy products, nuts and nut butters, dried beans, peas and lentils, and soy foods.
Family members and caregivers play an important role by supporting a loved one through the dying process: If the patient can still eat or drink, offer small sips of water/liquids, ice chips, hard candy or very small amounts of food via spoon. Take cues from the patient when to stop.
Your doctor has recommended that you be on “free water restriction” while you are in the hospital. This diet limits the amount of hypotonic fluids you drink. Hypotonic fluids are low in sodium, low in protein content, or both. Beverages You May Drink.