Dad starts radiation therapy tomorrow what should he know?

Prepare soft foods: mashed potatoes, buttered rice or noodles, smoothies, protein drinks or add protein powder, Boost or Ensure, cream soups, puddings, milk shakes, oatmeal, cream of wheat, Mac and cheese, those kinds of things. Also eat a tablespoon of honey right after each treatment. It helps promote healing.

How long did your dad have to wait from his diagnosis until his treatments? I start my radiation treatments in a week

Hello, it's been a month since the biopsy, and the diagnosis came on April 11th-Good luck to you will be sending you good healing energy!

I was diagnosed April 10 with an adenocarcinoma of the lung I start radiation on May 7th .Good luck to your dad

How many days of radiation will he be having? If he has the SBRT radiation then most likely no side effects with food. SBRT radiation is usually 3-5 days of treatment.
If he has the regular radiation over a broad field of the chest (7 weeks, 5 days per week) then they will tell him what foods to eat. If the radiation is near the center of his chest, then he will have to avoid acidic foods like tomatoes, citrus, tacos, pizza, pineapple. Also avoid scratchy foods like chips and crusty bread. My favorite food was milk shakes and ice tea.

Hello @ecgarst, I'm glad you received some information here. I have also heard that the radiation induced fatigue builds over time. He'll need to allow his body time to heal. How are your parents holding up after starting treatment?

Here's a link to a similar discussion which may be helpful:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/radiation-treatment-on-lul/?pg=2
And the Mayo Clinic Radiation information page:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/radiation-therapy/about/pac-20385162

Thank you so much for the extra links- they are doing as well as expected it has thrown the whole family through a loop, but we are a tight family and we are fighters so we are ready for whatever lies ahead...and dad is determined to get back on the golf course so that's a goal 🙂

Honestly, the radiologist and the oncologist differ on that. The radiologist feels like it will be less that the oncology team initially prescribed so we will see. So much good advice on food thank you! PS milkshakes are one of his faves!

@ecgarst, how is your dad doing on treatment? How is your mom holding up?

I had the radiation treatment on my lung, maybe I was lucky, but had no side effects except being very tired and sleeping to much for the next two days. By the way, I'm 76.