The side effects of radiation therapy usually come after 2 or 3 weeks from the start of treatment and can remain for up to 6 months after the end of treatment and include nausea, vomiting, fever and body aches, and hair loss.
In addition, red and irritated anemia, canker sores, gums and tongue, changes in food taste, poor appetite, general malaise with a feeling of heaviness in the legs, sore joints, and dehydration may also occur. However, low doses of radiation therapy may not even cause side effects.
Learn how to relieve the most common side effects.
How to relieve itching and skin irritation
You can wash the area with cold water because warm or warm water tends to worsen itching and irritation of the skin. Drinking tea can be helpful in relieving this discomfort, but the doctor may also prescribe some ointment to pass on the affected skin, bringing relief from the symptoms.
How to Fight Loss of Appetite
To improve the appetite and to be able to feed well you should eat whenever you are hungry, opting for healthy and nutritious foods like liquid yogurt, fruit vitamin or bread and cheese, for example.
Dropping lemon drops on your tongue before you start eating or chewing on ice chips are home-based strategies that help to whet your appetite. Other helpful tips are to use herbs in your meals and vary the menu so you do not get sick of the food. Here's how to plant and use herbs by clicking here.
How to Fight Pain in the Mouth or Throat
You should choose to keep the mouth always well hydrated, so it is recommended to drink about 2 liters of water or tea a day and prefer soft foods like banana, watermelon, vegetable puree, pasta, porridge and eggs.
One should avoid citrus fruits such as pineapple, orange and very salty foods, toast and biscuits that can injure the mouth. Sucking bullets can be helpful in avoiding dry mouth.
How to Fight Nausea and Vomiting
In addition to avoiding greasy and fried foods, it is important to avoid those with very intense aromas, preferring dry foods such as toast, bread, biscuit and frozen foods, such as fruit left in the refrigerator, gelatine, cold porridge, cold milk and yogurt, chicken roasted or cooked.
In addition, you should eat small amounts at a time, wear loose clothing and avoid muffled places.
How To Fight Diarrhea
Drink plenty of fluids during the day and after each episode of diarrhea, avoid fried foods, fats, broccoli, beans, peas and cauliflower, as well as pepper and curry. One should opt for fiber-poor foods such as white bread, eggs, cheese, ripe bananas, chicken, fish or lean beef.
Drinking coconut water may be a good strategy to replenish fluids and minerals, but homemade whey is also a good option. Learn how to prepare homemade whey properly in the following video:
How to Fight Constipation
Opt for fiber-rich foods like whole grain bread, vegetables, fruits and whole grains at all meals. Try to do some physical exercise to improve bowel function and try to eat a glass of natural yogurt with a slice of papaya in the morning.
Drinking plenty of fluids and adding 1 tablespoon of benfiber may be helpful in loosening the bowels, but laxatives bought at the pharmacy should be avoided and only used under medical supervision.
How To Fight Exaggerated Weight Loss
In the fight against cancer it is common to have weight loss, even when the person feeds as before. So it is important to increase your calorie intake by adding spoons of milk powder to the glass of milk, sour cream on the gelatin, put honey on the fruits and put granola in the yogurt, for example.
Anemia is also common and can be treated with increased consumption of iron-rich foods like black beans, beets and açaí, for example. See more examples of these foods by clicking here.
How to facilitate hair growth
After the fall, what can be done to make the hair grow faster should give preference to foods rich in protein because they are responsible for the growth of the yarn. Thus, it is recommended to consume meat, milk, eggs, tuna, nuts, nuts and almonds.
Massaging the scalp several times a day, passing a thin comb or a soft brush adds to the local blood circulation, and this also helps the hair to grow faster. See more tips here.
