Treatment FAQ

how do you get rid of radiation and chemo after treatment

by Cordell Hill Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Drink Plenty of Water, Herbal Tea – This is the most natural way to detox your body after chemotherapy. Make sure your drinking water is filtered (and preferably not obtained from plastic water bottles) to help keep you safe from herbicides, pesticides, and other assorted nasties that our water can often contain.

Full Answer

How to detox after chemotherapy and radiation treatment?

One particularly good one is freshly ground organic flaxseed, and psyllium is another. 6. Herbal Medicine – There are many herbs and essential oils which will assist you in detoxing after chemotherapy and radiation.

What should I do after radiation therapy?

Continue to give your skin extra protection from sunlight, even after radiation therapy ends. Use only lukewarm water and mild soap. Just let water run over the treated area. Do not rub. Also be careful not to rub away the ink marks needed for your radiation therapy until it’s done. Check with your cancer care team before shaving the treated area.

How can I Clean my Skin after radiation therapy?

Continue to give your skin extra protection from sunlight, even after radiation therapy ends. Use only lukewarm water and mild soap. Just let water run over the treated area.

What should I watch out for during chemo treatment?

Watch out for signs of chemo's long-term changes, and let your doctor know how you feel. Your doctor can suggest ways to manage your symptoms. If you feel a little foggy when your treatment is done, you might have a touch of " chemo brain ."

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How long does it take to get chemo and radiation out of your system?

It generally takes about 48 to 72 hours for your body to break down and/or get rid of most chemo drugs. But it's important to know that each chemo drug is excreted or passed through the body a bit differently.

How do you detox from chemo and radiation?

Detoxification during or after chemotherapy should always include the foundational approaches of maintaining high water intake, eating a proper diet rich in fiber and phytonutrients, and appropriate use of exercise.

What happens after you finish chemo and radiation?

Unfortunately, it is common for patients to experience fatigue, difficulty sleeping, problems with memory, persistent pain or tingling from neuropathy, and emotional distress.

How long does it take to get rid of radiation?

Even though most radiation treatments only target specific collections of cancer cells, the effects of radiation can easily spread to nearby cells. Most recover within a few weeks, but some injuries develop later or require a longer recovery process.

How long does it take to get back to normal after chemotherapy?

Most people say it takes 6 to 12 months after they finish chemotherapy before they truly feel like themselves again.

What should you not do after chemo?

9 things to avoid during chemotherapy treatmentContact with body fluids after treatment. ... Overextending yourself. ... Infections. ... Large meals. ... Raw or undercooked foods. ... Hard, acidic, or spicy foods. ... Frequent or heavy alcohol consumption. ... Smoking.More items...•

How do you detox from radiation?

Drinking lots of water is especially important if you experience diarrhea during radiation therapy. “Good hydration flushes toxins out of the body and reduces treatment side effects such as nausea, weakness, bowel changes, and fatigue,” says Komar.

Does radiation stay in your body forever?

The radiation stays in the body for anywhere from a few minutes to a few days. Most people receive internal radiation therapy for just a few minutes. Sometimes, internal radiation therapy can be given for more time. If so, they stay in a private room to limit other people's exposure to radiation.

Which is harder on the body chemo or radiation?

Since radiation therapy is focused on one area of your body, you may experience fewer side effects than with chemotherapy. However, it may still affect healthy cells in your body.

What should I avoid after radiation?

Avoid raw vegetables and fruits, and other hard, dry foods such as chips or pretzels. It's also best to avoid salty, spicy or acidic foods if you are experiencing these symptoms. Your care team can recommend nutrient-based oral care solutions if you are experiencing mucositis or mouth sores caused by cancer treatment.

How long do side effects of radiation last?

Most side effects go away within a few months of ending treatment. Some side effects may continue after treatment ends because it takes time for the healthy cells to recover from radiation.

What foods reduce radiation?

Seaweed such as kelp, nori, dulce and sea veg- etables are especially protective against uptake of radioactive iodine-131 as well as blocking strontium-90. Miso (fermented soybean paste) has an alkalizing effect and provides calcium, iron, B vitamins and zybicolin (helps detoxify and eliminate radioisotopes).

If You’Re Getting Radiation Therapy to The Brain

People with brain tumors often get stereotactic radiosurgery (radiation given in one large dose) if the cancer is in only one or a few sites in the...

If You’Re Getting Radiation Therapy to The Head Or Neck

People who get radiation to the head and neck might have side effects such as: 1. Soreness (or even open sores) in the mouth or throat 2. Dry mouth...

If You’Re Getting Radiation Therapy to The Breast

If you have radiation to the breast, it can affect your heart or lungs as well causing other side effects.

If You’Re Getting Radiation Therapy to The Chest

Radiation treatment to the chest may cause side effects such as: 1. Sore throat 2. Swallowing problems 3. Loss of appetite 4. Cough 5. Shortness of...

If You’Re Getting Radiation Therapy to The Abdomen (Belly)

If you are getting radiation to your stomach or some part of the abdomen (belly), you may have side effects such as: 1. Nausea 2. Vomiting 3. Belly...

If You’Re Having Radiation Therapy to The Pelvis

Radiation therapy to the pelvis (for example, as treatment for bladder, ovarian, or prostate cancer) can cause side effects such as: 1. Bladder pro...

How to eliminate toxins after chemotherapy?

The fastest way to eliminate the toxins after chemotherapy is to sweat. In a 2011 study, noted in the Archives of Environmental and Contamination Toxicology, “Many toxic elements appeared to be preferentially excreted through sweat.

What is the most important thing to know after cancer diagnosis?

One of the most important factors after your cancer diagnosis is to realize the emotional, mental, and spiritual connection to what may have caused an imbalance. Dr. Ryker Geerd Hamer paused to reflect, and he discovered the correlation between the traumatic experience of losing his son and his physical ailments.

What organs are open for chemo?

Your elimination organs include: Colon. Kidneys. Lungs.

Is sweating a way to eliminate toxic chemicals?

Presumably stored in tissues, some toxic elements readily identified in the perspiration of some participants were not found in their blood serum. Induced sweating appears to be a potential method for eliminating toxic chemicals from the human body.”. [ 2]

How to lose weight after chemo?

Work with a dietitian or nutritionist and add strength training exercises to your workout routine to help you shed some pounds. Energy. You probably remember the fatigue that hit you while you were getting chemo. But some people still feel extremely tired after treatment ends.

How long does it take for side effects to go away after chemo?

But others can linger for months or years or may never completely go away.

How long does chemo rash last?

Some side effects of chemotherapy only happen while you're having treatment and disappear quickly after it's over. But others can linger for months or years or may never completely go away. Watch out for signs of chemo's long-term changes, and let your doctor know how you feel.

Does chemo cause heart problems?

Heart. Certain chemo drugs can damage cells in your heart. Chemotherapy may also increase your odds of having heart problems, such as: Weakening of the heart muscle ( cardiomyopathy) Problems with your heart rhythm ( arrhythmia) Heart attack.

Does hair go back to normal after chemo?

But it's possible that at first it may not look like it used to. Its texture, shape, and color may be different. Over time, as the effects of the chemo on your hair follicles wear off, your hair will probably go back to the way it was before treatment. In rare cases, such as after years of strong chemotherapy, your hair follicles could shut down.

Does chemo make you gain weight?

Weight. Some types of chemo can make you put on extra pounds. You may find that the weight stays on even when your treatment ends. For instance, some drugs that treat breast cancer can cause you to lose muscle and gain fat, which makes it much more difficult to get the weight off.

Can you have children after chemo?

If chemo kills the immature stem cells in your testicles that become new sperm, you may become infertile, which means you can't have children . If you're a woman, chemotherapy can damage your eggs and harm your ovaries. You may stop having regular menstrual cycles after treatment.

What is the best treatment for radiation?

One way to reduce side effects is by using radioprotective drugs, but these are only used for certain types of radiation given to certain parts of the body. These drugs are given before radiation treatment to protect certain normal tissues in the treatment area. The one most commonly used today is amifostine. This drug may be used in people with head and neck cancer to reduce the mouth problems caused by radiation therapy.

How long do side effects last after radiation treatment?

Early side effects happen during or shortly after treatment. These side effects tend to be short-term, mild, and treatable. They’re usually gone within a few weeks after treatment ends. The most common early side effects are fatigue (feeling tired) and skin changes. Other early side effects usually are related to the area being treated, such as hair loss and mouth problems when radiation treatment is given to this area.

How long does it take for radiation to show up in the brain?

Radiation to the brain can also have side effects that show up later – usually from 6 months to many years after treatment ends. These delayed effects can include serious problems such as memory loss, stroke-like symptoms, and poor brain function.

How long does it take for radiation to cause side effects?

Late side effects can take months or even years to develop. They can occur in any normal tissue in the body that has received radiation. The risk of late side effects depends on the area treated as well as the radiation dose that was used. Careful treatment planning can help avoid serious long-term side effects.

What is the most common drug used for radiation therapy?

The one most commonly used today is amifostine. This drug may be used in people with head and neck cancer to reduce the mouth problems caused by radiation therapy. Not all doctors agree on how these drugs should be used in radiation therapy. These drugs have their own side effects, too, so be sure you understand what to look for.

How long does it take for side effects to show up after radiation?

Some side effects might show up quickly, but others might not show up until 1 to 2 years after treatment. Talk with your radiation oncologist about what to watch for and when to call your doctor. If the cancer is in many areas, sometimes the whole brain is treated with radiation.

Can radiation therapy cause low blood count?

Rarely, radiation therapy can cause changes in your blood count levels. These blood cells help your body fight infection and prevent bleeding. If your blood tests show low blood counts, your treatment might be stopped for a week or so to allow your blood counts to return to normal. This side effect is more likely if you’re also getting chemotherapy.

Starting With Neoadjuvant Therapy

Most often, these cancers are treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy . For HER2-positive tumors, the targeted drug trastuzumab is given as well, sometimes along with pertuzumab . This may shrink the tumor enough for a woman to have breast-conserving surgery . If the tumor doesnt shrink enough, a mastectomy is done.

Physical Emotional And Social Effects Of Cancer

In general, cancer and its treatment cause physical symptoms and side effects, as well as emotional, social, and financial effects. Managing all of these effects is called palliative care or supportive care. It is an important part of your care that is included along with treatments intended to slow, stop, or eliminate the cancer.

What Are Late Effects

Most women have side effects during treatment for breast cancer and for a few weeks after treatment ends. Usually, these side effects get better slowly and then stop. But sometimes side effects do not go away. Or they can develop months or years after treatment.

How Can I Make A Decision Between Mastectomy And Breast Conservation Therapy

Breast conservation therapy is often used for patients with early-stage invasive breast cancers . It is also used for patients with DCIS .

Radiation For Breast Cancer

Radiation therapy is treatment with high-energy rays that destroy cancer cells. Some women with breast cancer will need radiation, in addition to other treatments. Radiation therapy is used in several situations:

Working During Radiation Therapy

Some people are able to work full-time during radiation therapy. Others can work only part-time or not at all. How much you are able to work depends on how you feel. Ask your doctor or nurse what you may expect from the treatment you will have.

What Are The Different Kinds Of Radiation

The goal of radiation therapy is to get enough radiation into the body to kill the cancer cells while preventing damage to healthy tissue. There are several ways to do this. Depending on the location, size and type of cancer, you may receive one or a combination of techniques.

What to do if cancer spreads too much?

If the cancer has spread too much to be treated with surgery, chemo and/or targeted therapies may be used. Possible treatment schedules are the same as for stage IV disease.

What is the treatment for stage IV cancer?

Most people with stage IV cancer will get chemo and/or targeted therapies to control the cancer. Some of the most commonly used regimens include:

How long does it take for colon cancer to heal?

Chemotherapy may also be used after surgery (called adjuvant treatment ). Most adjuvant treatment is given for about 6 months.

What does it mean when cancer comes back?

Recurrent cancer means that the cancer has come back after treatment. The recurrence may be local (near the area of the initial tumor), or it may be in distant organs.

Can you have chemotherapy after surgery?

But your doctor may recommend adjuvant chemotherapy (chemo after surgery) if your cancer has a higher risk of coming back (recurring) because of certain factors, such as: The cancer looks very abnormal (is high grade) when viewed closely in the lab. The cancer has grown into nearby blood or lymph vessels.

Can you have radiation if you have cancer?

For some advanced cancers that have been removed by surgery, but were found to be attached to a nearby organ or have positive margins (some of the cancer may have been left behind), adjuvant radiation might be recommended. Radiation therapy and/or chemo may be options for people who aren’t healthy enough for surgery.

Can colon cancer be removed with surgery?

For some advanced colon cancers that cannot be removed completely by surgery, neoadjuvant chemotherapy given along with radiation (also called chemoradiation) might be recommended to shrink the cancer so it can be removed later with surgery. For some advanced cancers that have been removed by surgery, but were found to be attached ...

How to help someone with cancer?

Some people with cancer find relief from fatigue through meditation, yoga and other mindfulness practices that encourage relaxation. Massage and acupuncture can be helpful, too. But check with your doctor to make sure these are safe, especially if your blood counts are low or if you're taking blood thinners.

Why is it so hard to eat after cancer treatment?

When you have cancer, your body may need more nutrients than usual. But it can be hard to take in enough nutrients if treatment side effects, such as nausea and vomiting, make it difficult to eat.

How long does cancer fatigue last?

Your cancer fatigue may occur episodically and last just a short while, or it may last for several months after you complete treatment.

How to maintain energy during a syringe?

Moderate exercise, such as brisk walking, riding a bike and swimming, throughout the week may help you preserve your energy level. Exercise regularly as you start treatment. You'll get in the routine of exercising, and it may even help you prevent fatigue during treatment.

How to keep your energy up?

Maintain your energy. Drinking lots of fluids and eating well can help keep your energy reserves up . If nausea and vomiting make it hard to eat, talk to your doctor about these side effects.

Can bone marrow cancer cause fatigue?

You can also develop anemia if the cancer has spread to your bone marrow and interferes with blood cell production or causes you to lose blood. Pain. If you experience chronic pain, you may be less active, eat less, sleep less and become depressed, all of which may add to your fatigue. Emotions.

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