Radiation Therapy for Bone Metastases

Patient care during treatment

• • Often, it is okay to keep up with your normal activities, including moderate exercise. Some patients say they feel better if they exercise regularly. However, you might need to make time to ensure your rest. Ask your doctor what the right level of activity is for you.
• • Coping with cancer may be easier with good support from family and friends. You may want to consider asking your doctor or nurse about support groups in your area that may also help.
• • It is important to follow the doctor’s orders and ask lots of questions. There are no silly questions; often the treatment team has heard similar questions.
• • You and your family should ask the doctor if it is safe for you to drive.
• • It is important to tell your doctor about any medications or vitamins you are taking to make sure they are safe to use during radiation therapy.
• • Try to eat a balanced diet. The doctor, nurse or dietician can help suggests foods if you are having trouble eating or if food tastes funny.

Try to treat the area exposed to radiation with special care. This includes staying out of the sun, avoiding hot and cold packs, cleaning the area with warm water and mild soap (such as baby shampoo), and using lotions and ointments only after checking with your doctor or nurse. In the long-term, it is important to keep protecting the skin that was irradiated from the effects of the sun, and you should either keep it covered or use sun block.