Diet, Medication and Skin Care

Diet:

Your diet is important during radiation therapy to help you feel better and stay strong. A well balanced diet is needed to give your body the nutrients to repair tissue. Choose foods high in protein with each meal you eat. It may be necessary to eat small meals, several times a day, to maintain your nutrition. A daily multi-vitamin is encouraged. Talk with your nurse about you dietary questions.

Maintaining your weight or gaining “lost” weight back is important to help you increase the effectiveness of your treatments, give your body energy while fighting disease, and tolerate side effects from therapy. You may be weighed once a week on “Review Day”. Depending on your particular situation, it may be advisable to follow special dietary modifications. These recommendations will be specifically discussed as needed.

Medications:

Your radiation treatments will not affect your medications. You should, therefore, continue taking the medications that might have been prescribed for you by your other doctors.

The radiation oncologist needs to know the names and dosages of the medications, as well as any over the counter medications or herbal products you are taking. This is especially important if any other medications need to be prescribed for you. If you have not already done so, please bring in a list of the medications you are taking and the nurse will record them in your chart. Please let us know if you begin taking any additional medication during therapy as well.

Skin Care:

Proper care of your skin is very important during and after your treatment course. You may cleanse the area as needed, but take care to gently wash the treated skin with warm water and blot dry. Do not scrub! Try to avoid using soap, ointments, lotions, colognes, antiperspirant, tape, Band-Aids, make-up or powder on the treated skin unless they are first approved by the nurse or the radiation oncologist. The nurse will give you information on skin care for your particular treatment, which may include a special gel for radiated skin. Never put this or any other type of gel/lotion on your skin just prior to your treatment! Any marks we make on your skin with magic marker can usually be washed off, although positioning tattoos may be permanent.