2 Things To Keep In Mind After Your Radiation Therapy Ends

Radiation therapy can often be one of the most difficult treatment options that you can undergo when you have been diagnosed with any type of cancer, mostly because of how hard it is on your body. However, there are a few things you can keep in mind after your radiation therapy ends that can actually help you recover as quickly and as safely as possible, such as the two items listed below.

Discuss Any Pain With Your Doctor

One of the most important things to keep in mind after radiation therapy ends is to discuss any pain that you may be experiencing with your doctor, mostly so that he or she can help you discover the best ways to alleviate that pain. In addition, you will want to discuss how to treat that pain with your doctor because treating the pain incorrectly can actually cause more harm than good. For example, you typically do not want to use hot or cold to alleviate pain in an area where you experienced radiation therapy, mostly because this can actually lead to complications.

Another reason to discuss the pain with your doctor is in order to make sure that the pain isn't a sign that the radiation therapy failed. If your pain persists for days or weeks following your radiation therapy, then the doctor may have to try more radiation therapy or other treatments in order to send the cancer into remission.

Take It Easy For A While

Another important thing to keep in mind after radiation therapy ends is to take it easy as much as possible for a while following your treatments. The reason for this is that the radiation therapy is going to be extremely hard on your body and that means that your body does need quite some time to actually recover before you can start going about your daily life again. As a result, don't plan on going back to work until your doctor clears you for work and try to have a family member or friend stay with you in order to help you care for your house and do your day-to-day chores without overexerting yourself.

Speak with your doctor today in order to discuss what you should be doing in order to regain your health and strength after undergoing radiation therapy. Discussing any pain with your doctor and taking it easy for a while are both very important things to keep in mind after radiation therapy ends in order to ensure a smooth and healthy recovery.