What to expect during radiation — and help on how to feel better along the way

If you’ve been told you have cancer, radiation therapy may be in your future. Radiation is a core part of treatment plans for many types of cancer. It works by sending beams of high-energy radiation to the part of your body where your cancer is located.

There are a few different ways to do this, but the goal is always the same: to zap your cancer cells, killing them or keeping them from growing.

Radiation can be very effective, either on its own or along with other kinds of treatments, like chemotherapy. More than half of people with cancer get radiation therapy, according to the American Cancer Society.

“Radiation treatment is commonly used for breast, prostate, bladder, lung, and other cancers,” says radiation oncologist Ronald Chen, M.D. And it can be used to help avoid major surgery.

Here’s what to expect during your treatment and ways to feel better during the process.

What are the different types of radiation?

The radiation treatment you receive depends on your specific cancer diagnosis. The most common type of treatment is external-beam radiation therapy, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

It’s given by a device that looks like an x-ray machine. The radiation reaches you from outside your body. Your team will aim the rays at exactly the part of your body where your cancer is. It can even be used to treat large areas of your body.

Another common radiation therapy is called brachytherapy. That’s known as internal radiation. Your doctor will put seeds, ribbons, or capsules into the place where your cancer is. These materials contain radiation. They work to kill the cancer cells from inside your body. Doctors often do this for cancers of the head and neck, breast, cervix, prostate, and eye.

Who will oversee my treatment?

Before you start treatment, you’ll meet with your radiation oncologist. This type of doctor specializes in giving radiation to treat cancer. The doctor will explain the type of radiation you’ll be getting and answer your questions.

You’ll also have a radiation oncology nurse or nurse practitioner on your team. This provider will monitor your health during treatment to help you manage side effects. Your team will also include radiation therapists. These are professionals who are trained to run the radiation machine.

What happens first?

Your first session is called a simulation. This is like a practice run. A technician takes a CT scan, a type of picture that can look inside your body. It shows your cancer and the organs and tissues near it. That lets your doctor make a precise radiation plan.

If you are getting external beam radiation, you’ll get a few small tattoo marks on your skin to mark the exact spot where you’ll be treated.

How long does radiation therapy take?

Everyone’s treatment is a little different. But in general, a session lasts between 15 and 30 minutes. Many people receive their treatment Monday through Friday for six or seven weeks, Dr. Chen says. But some have only one session, and some have treatments that take much longer. It all depends on the type of cancer you have.

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What can I expect during my sessions?

You’ll be wide awake. For external beam radiation, you’ll lie on a treatment table. A machine will circle around you to deliver radiation to exactly the right place. You won’t feel a thing — no pain, nausea, or any other sensation. You can drive yourself to each session, then go home or to work when it’s over.

You must lie in the same position for each session. Ask your care team to help you find a comfortable position you can be in every time.

For brachytherapy, your doctor will place the radiation material into your body near the cancer through a soft, flexible tube called a catheter. Or they may use a larger device called an applicator. The radiation material will be left in for different amounts of time depending on the type of cancer you have, according to the National Cancer Institute. Options include:

• It may stay in place for a few minutes and then be taken out.
• It may remain in place for a few days (you’ll stay in the hospital during this time) and then taken out.
• It may be placed in your body permanently. This is a common treatment for prostate cancer.

When will I receive radiation?

Again, that depends. Sometimes, you may need both radiation and surgery. In that case, you may have radiation first. That way, if you have a large tumor, radiation can shrink it before the operation. Or you may receive radiation after you’ve had other procedures. With this strategy, your doctor hopes to kill any leftover cancer cells.

And for some kinds of cancer, you might receive radiation and chemotherapy together. Radiation treatment is also often used for people whose cancer has spread to other organs besides the one where it was originally found, says Dr. Chen.

What side effects should I expect from radiation?

“Radiation is precise, so it will only cause side effects in the part of the body that is treated,” says Dr. Chen. But the beams of energy aimed at cancer cells can damage healthy cells nearby too. Most side effects disappear a few days or weeks after your treatment is finished.

According to the National Cancer Institute, some common side effects include:

• Fatigue
• Skin irritation
• Swelling
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Hair loss

You can expect to see your radiation oncologist at least once a week. If side effects happen, your doctor can recommend the right treatment to help.

What can I do to feel better during radiation?

It’s important to take care of yourself when you’re undergoing radiation. Here are some strategies that can help relieve side effects:

Take good care of your skin. Skin in the treated area may become red and irritated. It might even look like you have a sunburn. To find relief, try these tips from the American Cancer Society:

• Wash the skin gently in lukewarm water. Don’t rub.
• Wear soft, loose clothing that doesn’t irritate the area.
• Try not to scratch.
• Protect the area from the sun.

Eat a healthy diet. Stick to a well-balanced diet with plenty of protein. This will help you stay strong during radiation. Your body needs extra protein to help heal tissues.

Get plenty of rest. Radiation can make you feel tired. If you can, take a quick nap during the day. That can give you extra energy.

Move more. Exercise can help relieve side effects for people going through radiation treatment. Talk to your care team to learn what kind of movement is right for you.

Ask for help. Mental health issues are common for people who have cancer. The condition (and the treatment) can make you feel depressed, anxious, fearful, and hopeless. If your mood has been low for a few weeks, don’t suffer. Talk to your care team or look for a cancer support group in your area.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.