Forum Discussion

Pookie's avatar
Pookie
Member
7 years ago

Protecting body from radiotherapy

I am about to start 4 weeks of radiotherapy and I am keen to do whatever I can to prevent or lessen side effects and to protect my normal cells from damage. I have read contradictory information about taking vitamins and antioxidants when undergoing radiotherapy (them interfering with effectiveness of radiation versus protecting healthy cells). Someone suggested I get vitamin c injections to protect against side effects - while there seems to be evidence that Vit C can fight cancer and assist in chemotherapy, there doesn’t seem to be conclusive evidence of how it effects radiotherapy. I am looking for advice on what nutrition or supplements I can take that will support my body and not interfere with the goal of the radiation but I keep reading conflicting information. I’m interested if others have any reliable sources of information or what you have done yourselves (before, during and after treatment). Thanks
nutrition
radiotherapy
side-effects
  • JoeyLiz's avatar
    JoeyLiz
    Member
    7 years ago
    @Pookie vitamin c is a no no with radiation sorry. Take all your normal meds though but give a list to your rad onc/nurse.
    For skin several options, if the center offers mepitel and your a suitable shape that is good, if they offer strata gel that is great too. Otherwise moo goo, qv, sorbolene are all good. The nurses should give you a list of approved creams. Just avoid anything with any metals such as silver or zinc.
    Best wishes
  • kezmusc's avatar
    kezmusc
    Member
    7 years ago
    @Pookie,  As far as the vitamin C goes there is for and against for chemo.  I was told not to take it as there is a theory it might protect the nasty cells as well as the good ones.  Talk to your radonc.  Mine advised not to take anything that wasn't essential medication, like blood pressure tablets etc but they are all different.

    I had 6 weeks rads.  They didn't use mepitel where I went.  I used moogoo udder cream the whole way.  The supraclavicle nuking was sore from about week 4 (used sudo cream on that one) but my skin only started to break down about dose number 25.  I used solosite and manuka honey gold cream for the broken ouchy bits and Flamazene (can't use that through rads as it contains silver) after I finished which cleared that up quickly.



  • kezmusc's avatar
    kezmusc
    Member
    7 years ago
    @Pookie,  As far as the vitamin C goes there is for and against for chemo.  I was told not to take it as there is a theory it might protect the nasty cells as well as the good ones.  Talk to your radonc.  Mine advised not to take anything that wasn't essential medication, like blood pressure tablets etc but they are all different.

    I had 6 weeks rads.  They didn't use mepitel where I went.  I used moogoo udder cream the whole way.  The supraclavicle nuking was sore from about week 4 (used sudo cream on that one) but my skin only started to break down about dose number 25.  I used solosite and manuka honey gold cream for the broken ouchy bits and Flamazene (can't use that through rads as it contains silver) after I finished which cleared that up quickly.



  • Sister's avatar
    Sister
    Member
    7 years ago
    I went through public for radiotherapy and used the Mepitel film but I had to ask for it.  There was no charge for using it but it was not offered.  I only knew about it because @joeyliz had mentioned it.  I had very minimal skin damage - some soreness a couple of weeks after treatment ended that cleared up pretty quickly.
  • Flaneuse's avatar
    Flaneuse
    Member
    7 years ago
    @Pookie You need to talk to your radiation oncologist about all this. Or one of his/her nurses. 
    For protection of skin, I used StrataXRT twice a day and it was wonderful. I have no residual pinkness; the only things is raised brown spots which apparently are unavoidable.
    Fran xo