what to get someone who is in radiation treatment

• Silky Wrap – allows easy access during radiation treatments
• Water bottles – stay hydrated
• Aromatherapy candles – to relieve stress and help you relax
• Notebooks – to help keep track of questions for your doctor, medications taken, notes on doctor’s appointments
• Journals & pens – journaling is very therapeutic, it relieves stress and helps you focus your thoughts
• Meditation CDs – meditations to help you cope with radiation treatment
• Stress Relief CDs – meditations to calm and reduce stress and relieve fatigue
Organic teas – mint tea is very relaxing
Sunhats – protect sensitive skin from the sun
High-factor sunblock
Books & Magazines
Hand sanitizer – alcohol-based, for use when washing with soap and water isn’t available.
Lip balm

Full Answer

How can you help someone undergoing radiation therapy?

Radiation to the head and neck may also cause mouth sores that can make eating hard. Try offering soft foods in small amounts and cold or frozen foods such as pudding, ice cream, or frozen yogurt. Is it safe to be around others while getting radiation treatment? People getting external beam radiation do not have radiation in their body and are not radioactive. People …

What to give a radiation patient as a gift?

Jul 16, 2019 · These gifts help nausea, and dry mouth: 3. Peppermint – peppermint essential oil, peppermint tea, peppermint candy. 4. Ginger – ginger syrup, ginger chews, crystallized ginger, ginger tea, ginger essential oil. I find ginger honey crystals dissolved in …

Where can I get more information about radiation treatment?

For radiation therapy to the head or neck, you may receive a thermoplastic mask. This is a mesh mask that is molded to your face and secured to the table. It gently holds your head in place. It is important for your body to be in the same position for each treatment. Your radiation oncology team cares about your comfort.

How are drugs treated for radiation exposure?

Feb 24, 2020 · Gift Ideas for Patients Going Through Chemo and Radiation 1- Chemo Port Pillow. To avoid repeated needle sticks during chemotherapy, many patients have a port, a catheter through... 2- Back Scratcher. For patients who are unable to raise their arms, Back scratcher comes in handy when they feel ...

What do you get someone who is undergoing cancer treatment?

Can you be around someone after radiation treatment?

What should you not do during radiation?

What do you put in a cancer patient basket?

What happens if you touch a radioactive person?

Does radiation treatment affect family members?

Is radiation worse than chemo?

What time of day is best for radiation therapy?

Can you shower after radiation treatment?

What juices are good for cancer patients?

How do you cheer up a cancer patient?

What do you buy a terminally ill person?

What Are Some Common Side Effects of Radiation? How Do I Handle them?

Radiation treatment is often targeted at one specific area of the body, so side effects can vary depending on the body part being treated. However,...

Does This Person Need Any Kind of Special Food Or Drink During Treatment?

People undergoing radiation to the head, neck, or stomach area may have trouble with nutrition because they feel nauseated or too fatigued to eat a...

Should I Take Precautions to Make Sure The Radiation They Receive During Treatment Isn't Harmful to Me?

Patients receiving external radiation therapy are only exposed to radiation during treatment itself. But there are two types of radiation treatment...

What type of radiation is used to treat tumors?

The most common type of radiation therapy is external beam radiation, which directs high-energy beams from a machine outside the body into the tumor.

What is caregiving during radiation treatment?

October 18, 2019. Taking care of someone with cancer may involve learning some basics about radiation treatments. Radiation therapy is one of the most common treatments for some types of cancer. It may be used to cure a cancer or shrink tumors, stop cancer from coming back, ...

How does radiation therapy work?

Radiation works by breaking the DNA in cancer cells which helps keep them from growing and can cause them to die.

How long after radiation therapy can you touch a patient?

With systemic radiation therapy, you may also have to avoid the person's bodily fluids for a few days after treatment.

What is systemic radiation?

Another type is systemic radiation, when a radioactive drug is used and either given by mouth or put into a vein. External and internal radiation therapy mostly affect only the part of the body that has cancer while systemic radiation travels throughout the body.

How to help a cancer patient with fatigue?

Staying active while also getting enough rest and eating a healthy diet may help. Talk to the cancer care team about other ways to manage fatigue. External beam radiation can make the skin in the area being treated look and feel like it’s been sunburned. It may hurt or itch, peel, or become flaky.

What are the side effects of radiation?

Some people may have many side effects, while others may have very few. The most common side effects are skin problems and fatigue.

Gifts that Help the Family

Treatment is just as stressful on the people who live with the patient as it is on the patient.

Gifts that Help Ease Nausea and Dry Mouth

Nausea is probably the most common side effect of chemotherapy. Dry mouth and mouth sores, often painful, are also common side effects of many chemo drugs. These gifts help nausea, and dry mouth:

Gifts that Ease Pain and Discomfort

Another common side effect of chemo is Peripheral Neuropathy, nerve damage that causes pain, tingling, numbness, especially in the feet and hands. Dry skin, lips, and eyes are also common. Chemo patients are often cold.

Gifts for Taboo Side Effects

There are also some side effect from chemotherapy that the patient is not comfortable sharing. For example: constipation, diarrhea, and hair loss.

Final Word

Even the smallest gesture is appreciated by someone going through cancer treatment. It is an exhausting and emotional experience.

What type of doctor is responsible for radiation therapy?

Radiation oncologist. This type of doctor specializes in giving radiation therapy to treat cancer. A radiation oncologist oversees radiation therapy treatments. They work closely with other team members to develop the treatment plan. Radiation oncology nurse.

What to expect when getting radiation therapy?

What to Expect When Having Radiation Therapy. It is normal to feel worried or overwhelmed when you learn that you will need radiation therapy. However, learning more about this type of cancer treatment may help you feel more prepared and comfortable.

What is the role of a dosimetrist in radiation?

Dosimetrist. The dosimetrist helps your radiation oncologist calculate the right dose of radiation.

What is simulation in radiation therapy?

Simulating and planning treatment. Your first radiation therapy session is a simulation. This means it is a practice run without giving radiation therapy. Your team will use imaging scans to identify the tumor location.

What is radiation oncology nurse?

Radiation oncology nurse. This nurse specializes in caring for people receiving radiation therapy. A radiation oncology nurse plays many roles, including:

How long does radiation therapy last?

It is the most common radiation therapy treatment for cancer. Each session is quick, lasting about 15 minutes. Radiation does not hurt, sting, or burn when it enters the body.

Why is it important to be in the same position for radiation?

It is important for your body to be in the same position for each treatment. Your radiation oncology team cares about your comfort. Talk with the team to find a comfortable position that you can be in every time you come in for radiation therapy.

What is the best way to hydrate during chemotherapy?

Hydration is extremely important during chemotherapy. A good BPA-free water bottle that’s easy to open and keeps liquids cold or hot for extended periods may be particularly useful. You can support the fighter in your life with something they will use throughout their treatment.

Where is the port for chemo?

The port is usually installed in the chest, beneath the skin and near the shoulder. Placement of the port can make wearing a seat belt uncomfortable, a port pillow protects the port site from becoming irritated by a seatbelt when riding in the car and relieves this discomfort.

Why do people get cold during chemotherapy?

Patients often say they get cold during chemo so it helps to cuddle up with a blanket. “Towards the end of my treatment, when the cold cap feels even colder because you inevitably have less hair, electric blankets are invaluable,” Montego a cancer survivor says.

Can you get a rash from radiation?

During radiation therapy, the skin may become pink or tanned, some people may develop a rash or blisters in the area where they are getting radiation therapy. Skin moisturizers can help to minimize any skin reaction and will help skin recover more quickly from treatment.

Do you need to nap during chemo?

Getting a good rest is the goal of most patients in the hospital. The very nature of a hospital can make sleep especially challenging, sometimes chemo treatment is long and the patient just needs to take a nap. Sleep masks may help the patient nap during treatment or allow him/her to sleep through the night, where light may interfere with the quality and quantity of sleep. These washable masks made from naturally moisturizing silk will bring total darkness to your patient for perfect sleep.

What is radiation therapy and you?

Radiation Therapy and You is for people who are about to receive or are now receiving radiation therapy for cancer. Family and friends may also want to read this booklet. This booklet is a guide you can refer to throughout radiation therapy. It includes facts about radiation therapy and side effects you may have depending on the part ...

What are the two main types of radiation therapy?

External Beam and Internal Radiation. Information about the two main types of radiation therapy.

When was the last time the radiation booklet was updated?

The information in this booklet was last updated in April 2021.

What to do if you are getting radiation treatment?

Here are examples of things you might be told to do if you're getting systemic radiation treatment: Wash your laundry separately from the rest of the household, including towels and sheets. Sit down when using the toilet (both men and women) to avoid splashing of body waste.

How to get rid of radiation?

Here are examples of things you might be told to do if you're getting systemic radiation treatment: 1 Wash your laundry separately from the rest of the household, including towels and sheets. 2 Sit down when using the toilet (both men and women) to avoid splashing of body waste. 3 Flush the toilet twice after each use, and wash your hands well after using the toilet. 4 Use separate utensils and towels. 5 Drink extra fluids to flush the radioactive material out of your body. 6 No kissing or sexual contact (often for at least a week). 7 Keep a distance away from others in your household. For example, you might be told to keep one arm’s length, or maybe six feet, between yourself and others for a specific length of time. You might also be told to sleep in a separate bed in a separate room for a specific number of nights. This depends on the type of treatment you receive. 8 Avoid contact with infants, children, and women who are pregnant for a specific amount of time. 9 Avoid contact with pets for a specific amount of time. 10 Avoid public transportation for a specific amount of time. 11 Plan to stay home from work, school, and other activities for a specific amount of time.

Why is it important to keep radiation exposure to the people around you?

If you're getting systemic radiation treatment , sometimes safety measures are needed to protect the people around you. This is because the radioactive materials can leave your body through saliva, sweat, blood, and urine and that makes these fluids radioactive. It's very important to keep radiation exposure to the people around you as limited as possible.

Why is it important to know that not all radiation treatments work the same way or have the same safety precautions?

This is because they must meet certain regulations that help to limit their exposure to radiation when caring for patients who need treatment and imaging tests. It's important to know that not all radiation treatments work the same way or have the same safety precautions.

How does radiation therapy work?

Internal radiation therapy uses a sealed source of radiation that is implanted (put inside your body) where the cancer is located. Depending on the type of implant used, your body may give off a small amount of radiation for a short time.

How long after radiation treatment should you follow safety precautions?

In most cases for systemic radiation treatment, the safety precautions must be followed only the first few days after treatment.

How long does radiation stay in your system?

Because of this, some radiation will be in your body for a few days until your body has had a chance to get rid of it.

What type of cancer is radiation therapy?

Internal radiation therapy might be used for people with prostate cancer and some types of breast cancer, etc. 1

What are the risks of radiation?

In general, the potential risks of radiation exposure include: 1 No risk from external radiation treatments. 2 Some risk from temporary internal radiation treatments, which is why these treatments are often done in a hospital in a shielded room. 3 Some risk from permanent internal radiation treatments, at least for the first few days or weeks of treatment, which is why contact with pregnant women and young children might be restricted. 4 Some risk from systemic radiation treatments, which is why contact with pregnant women and young children might be restricted.

How long does radiation treatment last?

Patients receiving temporary internal radiation can sometimes send its high energy rays outside their body, and so that kind of cancer treatment is usually done in the hospital in a private room, at least for a few days while the radiation is most active. And children under age 18 and pregnant women are usually not ...

Is radiation exposure a risk?

Exposure to Radiation Cancer Treatments. In general, the potential risks of radiation exposure include: No risk from external radiation treatments. Some risk from temporary internal radiation treatments, which is why these treatments are often done in a hospital in a shielded room.

Is radiation treatment a risk for a child?

Your family member's oncologist should give you specific details about any restrictions because of their radiation treatment. In fact, your child likely poses much more of a risk to the person being treated for cancer.

Can a child who lives in a house with a patient who is receiving radiation be affected in any way?

Can a child who lives in a house with a patient that is receiving external radiation for cancer be affected in any way? No, a child cannot be harmed by being around or living with someone that is receiving external radiation or any other treatment for cancer.

Does Verywell Health use peer reviewed sources?

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

What are the two most common cancer treatments?

The two most common types of cancer treatment that patients and their family members worry about are chemotherapy and radiation therapy . Here Snyder explains what you and your loved ones need to know about each.

What happens if you leave a radiation source in place?

If the radiation source is left in place, the amount of radiation lessens over time. However, the possibility of exposure to others is present.

What is internal radiation?

Internal radiation means that the radiation source is put into the body, Snyder says. Some examples of internal radiation are brachytherapy, in which doctors implant a seed, ribbon or wire that contains radiation in or around a tumor, the implant emits a dose of radiation to the surrounding area that kills cancer cells.

How long does radiation last?

“Small doses of radiation may be administered daily over a period ranging from several days to several weeks.

Why do some treatments need a little extra caution?

Why some treatments need a little extra caution. If you’re undergoing treatment for cancer, you know that the medicines and procedures have side effects. You may worry that these lifesaving treatments could somehow be harmful to your loved ones. It’s a concern that many cancer patients and their family members often have, ...

Does radiation continue after therapy?

The treated tissue does not continue to hold the radiation after the therapy session ends. So patients receiving external beam radiation need not worry about transmitting radiation to their loved ones.”. Internal radiation means that the radiation source is put into the body, Snyder says.

Is it safe to have physical contact with someone while receiving chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy safety. Snyder says some patients wonder whether it’s safe to have close physical contact with another person while they are receiving chemotherapy. “When we talk about being safe with chemotherapy patients, we really are talking about exposure to the chemotherapy medication,” she says.