It's important to continue your follow-up care, which includes:. As your body heals, you will need fewer follow-up visits.
Ask your doctor for a written record of your treatment. This is a helpful resource as you manage your long-term health care. Are there special services for patients receiving radiation therapy, such as certain parking spaces or parking rates? Will special precautions be needed to protect my family and others from radiation exposure during my treatment period?
This 1-page printable PDF gives an introduction to radiation therapy, including an overview of the different types of radiation, what to expect during treatment, possible side effects, terms to know, and questions to ask the health care team. Who is on my radiation therapy team? This team may include the following health care professionals: Radiation oncologist. A radiation oncology nurse plays many roles, including: Answering questions about treatments Monitoring your health during treatment Helping you manage side effects of treatment Medical radiation physicist.
These professionals include: Social workers Nutritionists or dietitians Rehabilitation therapists, such as physical therapists or speech therapists Dentists Learn more about the oncology team. What happens before radiation therapy treatment? You can expect these steps before beginning treatment: Meeting with your radiation oncologist. Signing the document means: Your team gave you information about your treatment options.
You choose to have radiation therapy. You give permission for the health care professionals to deliver the treatment. You understand the treatment is not guaranteed to give the intended results. These may include: A computed tomography CT scan Magnetic resonance imaging MRI An x-ray Depending on the area being treated, you may receive a small mark on your skin. You may also be fitted for an immobilization device.
This could include using: Tape Foam sponges Headrests Molds Plaster casts These items help you stay in the same position throughout treatment. What happens during radiation therapy treatment? External-beam radiation therapy External-beam radiation therapy delivers radiation from a machine outside the body. Internal radiation therapy Internal radiation therapy is also called brachytherapy.
The need for such precautions ends when: The permanent implant loses it radioactivity The temporary implant is removed Weekly reports During your treatment, your radiation oncologist will check how well it is working. Personal care Many people experience fatigue, sensitive skin at the site of radiation exposure, and emotional distress during radiation therapy.
Consider these ways to care of yourself: Plan for extra rest. Eat a balanced diet. Drink liquids regularly. Treat affected skin with lotion approved by your health care team. Protect your affected skin from sunlight. Seek emotional support. What happens after radiation therapy treatment ends? It's important to continue your follow-up care, which includes: Checking on your recovery Watching for treatment side effects, which may not happen right away As your body heals, you will need fewer follow-up visits.
Do not use a washcloth over the treated area. Do not scratch, rub or scrub the area. Do not put a heating pad or an ice pack on the area.
Avoid girdles or any tight clothing in the treatment area. Do not allow the treatment area to be in direct sunlight for at least one year past the last treatment.
Cranial brain radiation Brain swelling is a common side effect that will go away. Head and neck radiation Radiation treatment of head and neck tumors cause some side effects. What can be done about the side effects? Rinse your mouth with a salt and soda solution every hours.
This is the most important thing you can do to reduce mouth problems during radiation. Avoid mouthwash that contains alcohol. If you wear false teeth, ask your doctor if you can still wear them during treatment. Eat soft, moist foods. Put gravy and sauces on foods to make them easier to swallow. Avoid foods with sharp edges such as crackers or chips. Eat when you feel hungry, even if it is not meal time.
Do not use alcohol-based after-shave. Use an electric razor for shaving. Ask your doctor about special prescription mouthwashes to reduce mouth symptoms and make swallowing easier. Ask your doctor or nurse about using liquid dietary supplements. Carry a container of water with you so you can take frequent sips. Sugar free gum or candy may help relieve dry mouth. Chest radiation There are several side effects from radiation therapy to the chest. Things that may help breathing problems: Keep a humidifier or vaporizer close to you at all times to keep phlegm thinner so it can be coughed up easier.
Drink plenty of liquids to help in thinning phlegm. Sit with arms on a table in front of you. Lean on a table that has pillows placed on it for more comfort. Raise the head and chest while lying in bed. Wedge pillows can be purchased for this purpose. During times of shortness of breath, try inhaling through the nose and exhaling through pursed lips very slowly.
Avoid irritants, such as smoke. Breast radiation The two side effects that most often affect patients undergoing radiation therapy for breast cancer are fatigue and skin changes.
What can be done about side effects? Do not wear a bra, if at all possible. Or wear a bra over a soft white tee shirt. Surgical and sports bras are acceptable. Do not wear bras with under wires. Avoid heavy exercise that will produce a lot of sweat. This can cause skin irritation. Upper abdomen stomach radiation Radiation to the upper area of the abdomen may cause a sick feeling in the stomach and loss of appetite. To manage sick feelings due to radiation treatment: If you feel queasy before treatment, try a snack of dry toast, crackers and a clear beverage, such as apple juice or a carbonated beverage.
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. Choose foods that have a mild aroma or smell. Ask your doctor for medicine to help control the sick feeling if it becomes a problem or it keeps you from eating. Radiation Emergencies. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Minus Related Pages. Get Inside: Why should I get inside during a radiation emergency? How can I protect myself and family if there is a radiation emergency?
How can I help my children or other family members if they are not at home? What if I am in my car during a radiation emergency? Will a mask protect me from radiation exposure and contamination? Stay Inside: Why should I stay inside during a radiation emergency? What steps should I take to decontaminate myself and family?
What does it mean to shelter-in-place during a radiation emergency? If I was outside when a radiation emergency happened, what should I do to remove radioactive material from myself? How can I keep my pets safe during a radiation emergency? How will I know if food or water is safe? Does boiling water get rid of radioactive material? Stay Tuned: How can I get information during a radiation emergency?
What should I do if there are problems communicating with others during a radiation emergency? How will I know when it is safe to leave my home or place of shelter? How do emergency officials determine when to evacuate an area? Health Effects of Radiation Exposure: What are the immediate health effects of exposure to radiation? What are the long-term health effects of radiation exposure? What is internal contamination with radioactive materials?
What is external contamination with radioactive materials? Treatment for Radiation Exposure and Contamination What are the symptoms of radiation sickness? How is radiation sickness treated? What is the difference between radiation exposure and contamination?
Are there medicines available for radiation exposure or contamination with radioactive materials? Should I take potassium iodide KI during a radiation emergency? Radiation Injuries What should I do if I am injured during a radiation emergency? What if I am nursing? Are children at greater risk of being harmed from radiation exposure? Population Monitoring after a Radiation Emergency: What happens during population monitoring?
How will I know if I have been exposed to or contaminated by radioactive materials? What is a Community Reception Center? Radiation Emergencies: What are the different types of radiation emergencies?
How should I prepare for a radiation emergency? What should I have in my emergency preparedness kit for radiation emergencies? Radiation Information: What is radiation? What are the different types of radiation? What impact does radiation have on our lives on a daily basis?
What resources are available for training? The National Cancer Institute NCI notes that doctors commonly use external beam radiation to treat the following types of cancer:. The NCI suggests that brachytherapy may be an especially effective treatment for cancers in certain parts of the body, including the:. External beam radiation therapy and brachytherapy both start with a meeting to plan the treatment. A doctor will examine the individual, ask about their health, and discuss the therapy.
In some cases, they may request imaging. A person who decides to have external beam radiation will typically meet with a radiation oncologist and a radiation therapist for a planning session called a simulation. These marks can be either temporary or in the form of a tattoo. In addition, healthcare professionals may create a body mold that they use to ensure that a person is in the correct position when receiving radiation therapy.
If a person is receiving radiation therapy to the head or neck, they may need to use a face mask to keep their head in place during treatment. What to expect during radiation therapy will differ depending on which type of therapy a person receives. During an external beam radiation therapy session, a person will typically lie on a table beneath a large machine. The radiation therapist will position the individual in the machine and then go into a separate room. Although the person must try to stay still during the treatment, they generally do not have to hold their breath.
The machine will make whirring, clicking, and vacuum cleaner-like noises. A speaker system in the room allows the person to talk with the radiation therapist during the treatment.
Once the catheter or applicator is in position, the doctor will place the radiation source inside it. In some cases, the implant may remain in the body for up to a few days before the doctor removes it. In others, the doctor may place the implant in the body for a shorter time, such as 10—20 minutes, and repeat the treatment periodically for as long as several weeks. Sometimes an implant remains in the body permanently, but it will stop releasing radiation after some time.
When doctors use radiation therapy alongside other treatments, such as surgery or chemotherapy , they call it adjuvant treatment. Some people might receive radiation therapy before surgery to shrink a tumor and make it easier to remove. Other individuals might receive it after surgery to destroy cancer cells that the surgery may have missed. Sometimes, doctors use radiation therapy as part of palliative care to help relieve symptoms of advanced cancer.
0コメント