Can I prepare for salvage radiation?

Posted by anosmic1 @anosmic1, Aug 9 10:41am

For anyone who has undergone radiation treatments after surgery, is there anything I can do in advance to prepare? Radiation is expected to begin either in October or January. What can I do now to reduce side effects? What kind of side effects did you experience? Thanks in advance.

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dpayton | @dpayton | Aug 9 10:48am

Nothing that I know of. I had my radiation earlier this year. Not many side effects at all outside of incontinence getting worse. Best of luck to you!!!!

jeff Marchi | @jeffmarc | Aug 9 11:29am

I had seven weeks of salvage radiation. I would have it at 9 o’clock in the morning and go to work the full day right after. I had no side effects of any kind.

Some people have fatigue other people have urinary issues. Results vary.

anosmic1 | @anosmic1 | Aug 9 7:44pm

Thanks for sharing that experience, Jeff.

firespooks | @firespooks | Aug 10 4:49am

I was told not to eat gassy foods during the duration of the treatments. Also to have a full bladder right before each treatment.

brianjarvis | @brianjarvis | Aug 10 7:22am

You’ll have to ask your radiation team how they plan to minimize radiation toxicity to your rectum. Rectal tissue is very sensitive to radiation. The side-effects can be awful.

smoore4 | @smoore4 | Aug 10 8:27am

Also during treatment, what about driving back and forth every day 30-40 minutes? Is that an issue (ie, painful) or no problem? Thanks.

web265 | @web265 | Aug 10 8:50am

I would say not likely any issue there. I left the center and went to the gym for my workout. Any discomfort I had was a result of the operation, not the SRT. My biggest issue was fatigue in the last couple of weeks. I wasn't working because the government didn't approve orgovyx yet, they wouldn't let me work.

So gym > nap > rest of day at that time.
Best of Luck to you.

heavyphil | @heavyphil | Aug 10 3:42pm

My best advice is: Know Thyself. There should be a ‘radiation diet’ recommended by your RO. I would absolutely start it 4-6 weeks before you begin actual treatment.
The guidelines on what foods to avoid (gas producing) are mostly general; you yourself are responsible for knowing which particular foods cause gas or bloating in your own body.
They told me I could eat raw carrots - wrong! Raw apples - wrong! We are all different and you don’t want to find all this out on day one of radiation when they kick you off the table for having gas you cannot even feel.
Also, non gassy food for me translates to zero fiber foods; BM’s can become difficult and you MUST have a clean bowel before treatment, so you may need to look into non bloating fiber supplements to stay regular.
Most, if not all, of the side effects are directly from improper bladder filling and gas in the rectum at time of treatment. Control those two variables and you should be OK.