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Dealing With Side Effects of Radiation Therapy for Ovarian Cancer

Radiation therapy for ovarian cancer is a long recognized tool in destroying the tumors that are threatening your life. Unfortunately, this realization does not make dealing with side effects of radiation therapy for ovarian cancer any easier. The most commonly reported side effects of this therapy are three fold:

1. Nausea. This is felt almost immediately after radiation treatments and may last as long as five to eight hours. In some cases the body may begin by having preemptive nausea when you are ready to go to a radiation treatment appointment and you will already feel queasy even before you set foot into the treatment center. While there is little that may be done to prevent the nausea, there are some steps that may make it a bit easier to deal with: first and foremost, consider eating only bland foods sparingly on the day of your therapy appointment. Saltine crackers, Jell-O, or even thinned oatmeal may be sufficient to keep you from being overly hungry and from keeping your stomach to give you too much trouble. In severe cases, your doctor may prescribe medication to control your nausea.

2. Vomiting. When nausea progresses to vomiting, you will find that the worst part of dealing with this side effect of radiation therapy for your ovarian cancer is the absence of feeling better once the content of your stomach has been purged. Instead, you may continue to suffer from dry heaves and feel very little relief until much later in the evening. Limit your food intake on days that you are scheduled to undergo radiation therapy to only include bland foods that will cause the least rise in bile. Plain toast, white bread, cooked chicken, or even just a glass of milk may be your best bet. While you know that vomiting will happen, the absence of increased levels of bile will prevent the painful throat burn. In addition, make sure that you carry discrete bags to catch your vomit. Women have reported that the fear of vomiting without having a suitable container is about as bad as vomiting itself.

3. Diarrhea. It is noteworthy that this is a side effect that comes on slowly during your ovarian cancer radiation treatment. You may think you are home free until suddenly a couple of weeks into the treatment you develop persistent and painful diarrhea. At this stage it is crucial to switch to a clear diet, such as Jell-O, clear broth, and any other food you can see through. In addition, switch your food intake to several small meals throughout the day instead of the customary three sit down meals. By giving your intestines time to process the foods, you will find that nutrient absorption is greatly increased.

The most dangerous aspect when dealing with side effects of radiation therapy for ovarian cancer is a failure to recognize the odds of dehydration and nutritional deficiencies. Vitamin and mineral supplementation is crucial and you will find that increasing your water intake dramatically - sometimes actually switching to pediatric rehydration products - is vital to keep your cell functions and organ working.