Caring for Yourself

Follow the advice of your treatment team and ask your nurse or doctor any questions that come up about treatment or symptoms. Be sure to tell your radiation oncologist about any vitamins or dietary supplements that you are taking to make sure they are safe to take during radiation.

It is important to take care of yourself during your radiation therapy treatment. The normal parts of your body need time and energy to heal. A balanced diet with small, frequent meals, a moderate amount of physical activity and taking time to rest are essential parts of your cancer treatment. Sometimes it may be easier to drink your calories with supplements like a calorie replacement protein shake. Ask your treatment team for recommendations if you are having difficulty swallowing, maintaining your weight or getting dehydrated. It is important not to lose too much weight during your treatment so that your body can heal and recover.

For patients who have trouble with weight loss or swallowing, a feeding tube may be helpful in delivering enough calories and fluids so that the body can recover from treatments. The hope is that the feeding tube use will be temporary, but in some cases, it can become permanent.

Recovery after completion of treatment can also be challenging. Seek out help from support groups and friends ahead of time. If you have a support network in place before and during treatment, it will be easier to get through treatment. If you need additional support, let your doctor and nurse know. They may have resources available.