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Do you feel sick after first radiation treatment?

cancercouncil.com.au - Appetite Loss & Nausea | Radiation Therapy Side Effects

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Some people may lose interest in food or find it difficult to eat well during radiation therapy. This can depend on the part of the body being treated. It is important to try to keep eating well so you get the nutrition you need to maintain your weight. Good nutrition will give you more strength, help manage side effects, and improve how you respond to treatment.

Learn more about:

Radiation therapy near the abdomen, pelvic region or head

You may feel sick (nauseated), with or without vomiting, for several hours after each treatment. Your radiation oncologist may prescribe medicine (antiemetic) to take at home before and after each session to prevent nausea. If you are finding nausea difficult to manage, talk to the radiation oncologist or nurse, or call Cancer Council 13 11 20.

Radiation therapy to the head and neck area

Chewing or swallowing may be difficult or painful. Your sense of taste may also change if radiation therapy has affected the salivary glands or tastebuds. In some cases, taste changes may be permanent. If you are finding it difficult to eat well and get the nutrition you need, a dietitian can suggest changes to your diet, liquid supplements or a feeding tube. Dietitians work in all public and most private hospitals. You can ask your cancer care team if they can arrange an appointment with a dietitian. To find an accredited practising dietitian in your area, visit dietitiansaustralia.org.au.

How to manage appetite changes

Appetite loss Nausea Eat 5–6 small meals each day rather than a few large meals.

Try to eat extra on days when you have an appetite.

Ask for a referral to a dietitian to get advice on what to eat during treatment and recovery. If you don’t feel like eating solid foods, enrich your drinks with powdered milk, yoghurt, eggs or honey. Do not use nutritional supplements or medicines without your doctor’s advice, as some could affect treatment. Cooking smells may put you off eating. It might help if someone else prepares your food, or you could reheat precooked meals. Try to do some light physical activity, such as walking. This may improve your appetite. Let your treatment team know if you are having trouble eating or if your weight has changed. Have a bland snack, (e.g. toast and apple juice) before each session.

Try food and drinks with ginger or peppermint to help reduce nausea.

Sip on water and other fluids throughout the day to prevent dehydration.

Eat dry biscuits, crackers or toast. If nausea is a problem in the morning, have a dry cracker before getting out of bed. Ask your doctor if you can try anti-nausea medicine. Take this as prescribed and tell your doctor if the medicine doesn’t help – it may take some time to find one that works for you.

For more on this, see Nutrition and cancer .

At first, I couldn’t think about eating without thinking about throwing up. Drinking ginger beer helped control the nausea. Simon

Podcast: Appetite Loss and Nausea

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What is the best laser surgery for prostate?

The holmium laser is a surgical laser that has been found particularly effective in performing several types of urological surgeries. In the case of HoLEP, the laser is used to cut and remove the bulky prostate tissue that is blocking the flow of urine.

my.clevelandclinic.org - Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP) - Cleveland Clinic

Overview

Normal and enlarged prostate

What is holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP)?

Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) is a type of laser surgery used to treat obstruction (blockage) of urine flow as a result of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In men with BPH, the prostate gland is not cancerous but has become enlarged. An enlarged prostate can result in a number of urinary tract symptoms such as frequent urination, inability to urinate, difficulty in starting urination, or loss of bladder control. HoLEP was developed in the 1990s as a more effective and potentially less costly surgery for urinary obstruction due to BPH, as compared to other surgical options such as laser vaporization and transurethral resection of the prostate.

How does holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) work?

Who needs to have holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP)?

BPH occurs in more than 40 percent of men over the age of 60 and is a leading cause of urination symptoms, including difficulty in passing urine. As men age, the symptoms of this condition can worsen. Although many cases of urinary obstruction from BPH can be treated without surgery, patients who do not benefit from such medical treatments may eventually need surgery to avoid or deal with long-term problems such as retention of urine, urinary tract infections, and bladder stones. Patients who are appropriate for HoLEP are typically symptomatic due to very large prostates.

Patients may not be candidates for HoLEP if:

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