Preparing Yourself For Radiation Therapy

The diagnosis has come in and you can tell by the sombre look in your doctor’s eyes that the news isn’t good- you have cancer. It’s not that surprising, you had a feeling and you have been getting sicker lately, but somehow facing the final, hard reality of it is still a shock, and you sit there feeling a tumult of emotions- fear, anger, grief, and even a moment of denial- “Is this really happening to me? It can’t be!” The next feeling that will come is helplessness, but you can’t succumb to it, because there is help, you can beat cancer, millions of people do every year!

And so, after giving you a few minutes to digest this new reality, your doctor is going to tell you the words you are probably dreading but know could save your life- “We want to start you on radiation therapy as soon as possible.” So, there it is. Now that you know, it’s time to prepare yourself for what is to come. You have certainly heard about the treatment, and frankly, it all sounds pretty harsh, but radiation therapy affects every individual person differently, so try not to go into it with a bunch of expectations, just take it minute to minute, hour to hour, day to day. 

The next thing you will need to do is to prepare for the treatment. The following suggestions are meant to get you ready to begin your course of radiation therapy and help you cope with the process:

Practise Self Care – be sure to look after yourself in the days before the treatment begins. Make sure to eat delicious, nutritious foods that you enjoy, and drink a lot of water to stay hydrated. Cut down on alcohol, and be sure to get enough sleep. It’s also important to get some exercise- go for a walk, a swim, or a bicycle ride, and think about trying out yoga if you haven’t, it can help your mind and your body prepare.

Try To Relax – It’s only natural for you to be nervous, frightened even, but just remember that you are going to get through it! Prepare yourself by trying to relax first, do some deep breathing, read a book, listen to music, whatever helps you to feel calm. Bring a trusted friend or family member with you to the first session to talk to and to provide you with comfort and companionship- you are not alone! While you are undergoing the session try to practice some meditation techniques like deep, mindful breathing, and choose some mellow music to listen to- it will be over before you know it!

Talk About It – It’s important to be open and frank about what’s ahead of you, and sometimes it helps simply to talk about it with a friend or loved one, getting your fears and anxieties off your chest makes it easier to deal with them. If you have questions and concerns don’t hesitate to ask your doctor and your treatment team, they are there to help you!

There is no sugar-coating it, radiation therapy is a hard thing to go through, but you will because it will save your life!