In radiation therapy, radiation is directed at the parts of the body with cancer so the cells are unable to grow and divide. While all cells are affected by radiation, most normal cells can usually recover.

People with cancer often get radiation treatments 5 days a week for 2 to 9 weeks. The type of side effects radiation may cause depends on the area of the body being treated, the size of the area being treated, the total dose of radiation, and the number of treatments. The following chart shows possible eating-related side effects of radiation, according to the area of body being treated. Some of these side effects can happen during treatment while others may not happen until some time after treatment.

Area of the body being treated	Eating-related side effects that might happen during treatment	Eating-related side effects that might happen more than 90 days after treatment
Brain, spinal column	Nausea, vomiting	Headache, tiredness
Tongue, voice box, tonsils, salivary gland, nasal cavity, pharynx	Sore mouth, difficulty or pain with swallowing, change in taste or loss of taste, sore throat, dry mouth, thick saliva	Dry mouth, damage to jaw bone, lockjaw, changes in taste and smell
Lung, esophagus, breast	Trouble swallowing, heartburn, fatigue, loss of appetite	Narrowing of the esophagus, chest pain on exertion, heart enlargement, inflammation of the pericardium (the membrane around the heart), lung scarring or inflammation
Large or small intestine, prostate, cervix, uterus, rectum, pancreas	Loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, gas, bloating, difficulty tolerating milk products, changes in urination, fatigue	Diarrhea, blood in urine or bladder irritation

Side effects usually start around the second or third week of treatment and peak about two-thirds of the way through treatment. After radiation therapy ends, most side effects last 2 to 3 more weeks, but some may last much longer.

If you have side effects, ask your doctor, nurse, or other health care professional whether medicines, a change in diet, anything else can help you manage the side effects.

Eating nutritious foods while getting radiation therapy can help you:

• feel better
• keep up your strength and energy
• keep up your weight and your body’s store of nutrients
• tolerate treatment-related side effects
• decrease your risk of infection
• heal and recover faster

Nutrition suggestions for people getting radiation therapy

Eating well while getting radiation may be hard to do, especially if you are being treated at a center far from your home. If the center has a kitchen, you can store and easily prepare frozen foods, soups, or single servings of fruits, puddings, gelatin, ice cream, or cereals.

If there is no kitchen where you are staying, keep foods on hand that do not need refrigeration, such as single servings of canned fruit, gelatin, pudding; cheese or peanut butter and crackers; granola bars; or cereal. Also remember these tips:

• Try to eat something at least 60 minutes before treatment rather than going in with an empty stomach.

• Bring snacks or nutrition supplements with you to eat or drink on the ride to and from treatment if you are traveling a long distance.

• Eat small frequent meals with fluids if food does not taste good, hurts going down, or causes diarrhea.

• Be sure to drink plenty of water and other liquids.

• Ask friends and family members to help by shopping for groceries and preparing meals.

• Do not expect to have the same side effects as someone else being treated for cancer in another area of the body. Even people with the same treatment may have different side effects.

• Try to eat small, frequent meals and snacks rather than 3 large meals. If your appetite is better at certain times of the day, plan on having your largest meal then. You may also have been told to add extra calories and protein to your foods. If so, see the section "Suggestions for increasing calories and protein" in this guide.

Nutrition supplements, such as liquid meal replacements, can be helpful during this time. Your doctor, nurse, or dietitian may have samples for you to try. Sometimes your insurance company will pay for nutrition supplements if your doctor orders them.

Other patients can be a great source of information and support. Get to know and talk with other patients about their experiences, or join a support group. If you would like information on support programs, contact your local American Cancer Society office or call 1-800-ACS-2345.

If you are having appetite problems, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, sore mouth or throat, dry mouth or thick saliva, trouble swallowing, or changes in the taste or smell of food, please refer to these sections in this guide for information on how to help manage these side effects.

If you are having trouble eating and have been following a special eating plan for diabetes or some other chronic health condition, talk to your doctor, nurse, or dietitian about how best to change your eating habits while you are having radiation treatments.

Tell your doctor or nurse about any side effects you may be having so they can prescribe any needed medicines. For example, there are effective medicines to control nausea and vomiting or to treat diarrhea. For more information on how to manage the side effects of radiation therapy, ask the American Cancer Society for a copy of Understanding Radiation Therapy: A Guide for Patients and Families.

Revised: 02/04/2008