Looming radiotherapy can cause stress, anxiety, and worry about how your body will respond, but there are some things you can do to prepare both your body and mind for this effective treatment. Let’s answer some common questions, such as ‘what should I do before radiotherapy’ and ‘is radiation treatment painful? ', and take a look at how to stay calm during radiation.
What Should I Do Before Radiotherapy?
#1: Talk to Your Oncologist
The best way to get the internal scoop on what will be happening to your body is to talk to your doctor. They will know how to keep you feeling your best, whether that means providing you with anti-nausea medication or helping you develop a diet for your sensitive stomach. Your doctor can also help you prepare mentally by going through the list of possible side effects.
Knowing what to expect can help ease your mind, but it can also be a point of stress. Asking questions about side effects and getting answers to things like “is radiation treatment painful” may help you. Knowing the early, medium, and late-onset symptoms will also help you manage your expectations.
#2: Reduce Stress and Anxiety (as much as you can)
It’s completely normal to feel stressed or anxious about your upcoming radiotherapy treatment. However, you need to keep in mind that the build-up of cortisol in your body can definitely have negative effects on your mental and physical health as you go through treatment. You may want to try some breathing exercises, meditation, massage, and other coping mechanisms in the time before your treatment. These tactics will be how to stay calm during radiation, too!
#3: Consolidate Your Schedule Or Take Time Off
Radiation is hard on the body, and it’s best to take time off during and for a short time after your treatment cycle. Ask for help around the house, too; you’ll need to rest, and you might even be too sore to do anything right after your treatment concludes.
#4: Clean Up Your Diet
Your body is going to need all of the good, clean energy it can get; as you start preparing for radiation, start replacing processed foods with whole foods as soon as you can. Whole foods will help your body get the energy it needs without having to fight through all of the fillers, unnecessary sugars, and high fat content.
#5: Get Some Comfortable Clothes
Depending on where you will be receiving radiation therapy, your skin is going to be raw and uncomfortable. Keep this in mind as you look through your wardrobe. Even if you will be staying home, you’ll want to be comfortable while doing it.
#6: Prepare Your Skin Before Your Radiotherapy Begins
As we’ve discussed previously, in What Does Radiation Therapy Do To Your Skin, radiotherapy tends to damage skin cells in the crossfire. Ionizing radiation is extremely targeted nowadays, however, the radiation still needs to pass through your skin in order to reach its destination. You can mitigate the side effects on your skin by using a non-steroidal oncology cream like our Rejuvaskin Skin Recovery Cream for Radiation Relief.
#7: Remember That You’re Fighting, But You Aren’t Fighting Alone
Perhaps the most important thing you can do as you prepare for radiation therapy is to remember that you may be fighting, but you are not fighting alone. Even if you don’t have a supportive network of family members or friends, your care team is available to help you get the support you need.