Living With Cancer During Treatment
Advanced Urology Associates helps patients to take special care of themselves to protect their health during cancer treatments.

Preventing and Managing Side Effects During Cancer Treatment
The doctors and/or nurses at Advanced Urology Associates will give you advice for caring for yourself that is specific to your treatment and the side effects that might result.
Care Suggestions:
What Can I Do To Take Care of Myself During Therapy?
Be sure to get plenty of rest.
You may feel more tired than normal. Sleep as often as you feel the need. Fatigue may last for 4 to 6 weeks after your treatment ends.
Eat a balanced, nutritious diet.
Depending on the area of the body that will receive radiation (for example, the abdomen or pelvic area), your doctor or nurse may suggest changes in your diet.
Take care of the skin in the treatment area.
The skin in the area receiving radiation treatment may become more sensitive. For this reason, do not use any soap, lotions, deodorants, medicines, perfumes, cosmetics, talcum powder, or other substances on the treated area without your doctor’s approval. Some of these products may irritate sensitive skin.
Do not rub, scrub, or use adhesive tape on treated skin.
If bandaging is necessary, use paper tape or other type for sensitive skin. Try to put the tape outside the treatment area, and avoid putting the tape in the same place each time.
Do not apply heat or cold (heating pad or ice pack, etc.) to the treatment area.
First talk with your doctor. Even hot water can hurt your skin, so use only lukewarm water for bathing the treated area.
Do not use a pre-shave or after-shave lotion or hair-removal products.
Use an electric shaver if you must shave the area, but only after checking with your doctor or nurse.
Protect the treated area from the sun.
Your skin may be extra sensitive to sunlight. If possible, cover treated skin with dark-colored clothing before going outside. Ask your doctor if you should use a lotion that contains a sunscreen. If so, use a sunscreen product with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Reapply the sunscreen often, even after your skin has healed. Continue to provide extra protection to your skin from sunlight for at least 1 year after radiation therapy.
Tell your doctor about medication you are taking before your treatment.
If you take any medication, even things like aspirin or vitamins, let your doctor know first.
Variations of Side Effects
High doses of radiation damage or destroy cancer cells in the radiation field by damaging the DNA cells. DNA stores genetic information on cell growth, division, and function. Radiation can also damage the DNA of normal cells. This may cause different side effects, depending on the area of the body that is being treated. Many patients have no side effects at all, but some patients have side effects related to the treatment area. Although unpleasant, most side effects are not serious and can be controlled.
IMRT Radiation therapy treatments can cause early and late side effects. Early side effects occur close to the time of treatment. They usually are gone within a few weeks of finishing therapy, although they may be permanent. Late side effects may take months or years to develop and usually are permanent.
The most common side effects are:
- Fatigue (feeling tired)
- Urinary Problems • Skin Changes
- Gastrointestinal Symptoms
Most side effects go away in time. In the meantime, there are ways to reduce the discomfort they cause. If you have a reaction that is severe, the doctor may order a break in your treatments, change the schedule, or change the type of treatment you are receiving. Tell your doctor, nurse, or radiation therapist about any side effects you notice so they can help you manage them.
Dealing with Fatigue
Dealing with Skin Care
- If your skin is marked with a color dye, do not wash the marks off or ‘refresh’ the marks yourself. They are necessary for accurate daily alignment of the treatment beam.
- At the beginning of your treatments, the therapist may ‘tattoo’ the treatment area. Tattoos are small permanent dots that define the treatment area and allow for accurate daily set ups.
- Keep your skin dry and exposed to the air whenever possible. Use of cornstarch, gently patted on with a powder puff, will keep the skin dry.
- Wear loose fitting clothing that does not rub or irritate the treatment area.
- Avoid extreme hot and cold temperatures to treated areas. This includes heating pads, hot water bottles, ice bags, heat producing ointments and lotions. An electric blanket may be used on low temperature settings.
- Clean the treated area with mild soap and warm water. Do no massage or rub the treated area vigorously.
- Avoid placing any powder, ointments, lotions creams or oils on the treated skin area, unless ordered by your physician.
- Protect your skin from excessive sun exposure.
As your treatment progresses, the doctor will advise you regarding skin care and if necessary, will prescribe medications. Once therapy is complete, skin reactions usually subside in two to four weeks. The skin may be dry, scaly and slightly darker than normal after treatment. Continuing the use of ointment or lotion will aid the return of normal skin texture.
Proper Nutrition during Treatments
Controlling Diarrhea
- Drinking at least 8 glasses of fluid daily.
- Avoid foods known to cause loose stools, gas, or cramps such as raw fruits and vegetables, coffee, beans, cabbage, whole grain, breads and cereals, sweets and spicy foods.
- Increase intake of protein, carbohydrates, fiber, and calories. Be sure your diet includes foods that are high in potassium (bananas, potatoes, apricots), and important mineral you may lose through diarrhea.
- Report loose or watery stools of 3 or more per day.
- Do not take a laxative unless specifically directed by your physician.
Side Effects with Radiation Therapy to the Pelvis
Bladder
Bladder irritation results when normal as well as cancer cells are included in the radiation treatment field. The cells that that line the bladder divide rapidly as do cancer cells. Radiation damages cells that divide at a fast rate. This may lead to bladder irritation and infection. If this happens, you may find that you have to urinate frequently and urgently, during the day and at night. You may have the urge to urinate but have difficulty starting your stream. You may feel pain or burning when you urinate and notice pus or small amounts of blood in your urine.
Bladder irritation is temporary. Injured cells will be replaced by new cells and the bladder will usually heal within 2 to 3 weeks after your treatment has ended. Your Radiation Oncologist may order blood or urine tests if you develop signs or symptoms of a bladder infection. It is important to drink plenty of fluid. This dilutes your urine and decreases the risk of infection. It will also help remove pus or blood from the bladder and promote healing if an infection has already developed. If you have any symptoms of bladder irritation, talk to your doctor or nurse.
Sexual Relations
With IMRT treatments, men are not likely to suffer any change in their ability to enjoy sex. However, you may notice a decrease in your level of desire. Radiation may affect a man’s ability to have an erection (if hormone suppression is also given as part of the course of treatment).