Treatment Update - Radiation

BNT, I had both external (25) and brachytherapy (3).  I had slight digestive issues at the beginning of radiation and then, luckily, it kind of stopped when I really hadn't changed my diet too much.  I know avoided spicy food, and I like that, but I tried to keep it "simple" and kept up the protien. 

I think because I had IMRT for my external radiation I did not experience any radiation burns on my skin, but I did put Eucerin on my abdomen anyhow.  With internal radiation it is a little different.  She will (should) be given dialators for after she completes that treatment.  They are often referred to as "candlesticks" here because they are a hard piece of plastic.  She would be told to use them 3 times a week for 10 minutes a day.  One of the lovely women here recommended using it every day for 10 minutes, and that is the route I followed.  It WAS difficult at first, but it takes work.  (As I said years ago, TSA did ask "what is that?" once when I went through security and I told him I had uterine cancer!)

I have been taking probiotics before radiation, and I was shown a study by a dietician I met with during radiation, that showed how the use of them greatly reduced terrible side effects from dehydration because of diarrhea.  The study was dramatic, graphic, but dramatic.

I have been taking D3 (5000IU), along with calcium, a multivitamin, and Occuvite for my eyes.  Everyone has to do what they think is best for them, but I am a huge fan of the probiotics.

Sorry for all of you have read my comments before.  I think there is a thread about:  Let's talk about radiation.  If I can find it I will edit my post and add the link.

Here is the link:  https://csn.cancer.org/node/296985

I would recommend that you and your mom talk to her radiation oncologist about any supplements she is thinking about taking during radiation treatment.  For many years, there have been concerns that antioxident supplements such as Vitamins C and E, among many others, may interfere with radiation treatment.  See:  https://www.oncolink.org/cancer-treatment/radiation/support/supplement-use-during-radiation-therapy.  While the research is somewhat conflicting, I believe many doctors discourage antioxident supplementation during radiation treatments.  Just to be safe, therefore, I would make sure that your mom's radiation oncologist does not have a problem with whatever she plans to take during radiation treatment. 

Best of luck to your mom. 

MoeKay

You all made me think of what else I wanted to add.  I did get pink showing up on the end of the dialator.  I did go back and see the doctor and the oncologist I worked with said she saw it was because of a radiation burn.  I thought about that for awhile.  Radiation burns don't heal quickly, and she did say she has seen worse, but for me it has gotten less over the years.  Also, I will add that after six years of using the dilators every day, I don't need to do it at that frequency anymore.