Preparing for radiation treatment

Here are some tips to help you in preparing for your loved one’s external beam radiation treatment.

Always discuss these tips with a qualified medical professional to be sure they are appropriate for your specific situation.

• Your man will most likely have small dots tattooed (they don’t hurt, and are about the size of a pinhead) on his body so his healthcare team will know where to direct the treatment
• While the actual treatment only takes a few minutes, the set up time can take 20 minutes or longer. If you accompany your man, you might want to bring something to read while you’re waiting for him
• The doctor or nurse will tell him to avoid using powders, creams, deodorants, body oils, ointments, lotions, or other skin care products on the areas being treated
• The doctor will also probably advise your man to only use lukewarm water and a very mild soap. So it’s a good idea to remove all scented or deodorant soaps from the shower before he starts treatment
• Your man should avoid wearing wear tight clothing over the areas that are being treated to prevent skin irritation. He should also avoid rubbing, scrubbing, or scratching any areas that are sensitive
• He should not use heating pads or ice packs on treated skin, unless the doctor says it’s okay
• It is important to cover treated areas to protect the skin from sun exposure during treatment, and for about a year after treatment ends. If he has to be out in the sun, talk to his doctor or nurse about which sunscreen to use
• Some men experience changes in the skin (it may look darker or look like it is sunburned). If this happens, make sure you tell the doctor about it
• If the doctor says it’s okay, regular exercise may help lessen the fatigue that is common with radiation treatment. This fatigue tends to occur towards the end of treatment and can linger for several weeks after treatment ends