It is important to care for yourself during radiation therapy because the normal parts of your body that are near the tumor are also receiving some radiation, although not as much as the cancer. These normal parts of your body need time and support to heal.
Things that you can do to help with healing and prevent some symptoms include:
During and even after radiation therapy is over, you will need to take special care of your skin. Stay out of the sun, avoid hot or cold packs, and do not use lotions or ointments without checking with your doctor or nurse first. You should also be sure to clean the skin over the areas receiving radiation therapy with warm water and mild soap.
Having a support network in place before and during treatment, it will help make it easier to get through side effects since people you can count on will be around to help you. If you need additional support, let your treatment team know.