How will radiation treatments affect my ability to eat?
As radiation treatments only affect the area of the body that is treated, the type of side effects you will experience will depend on the area that is being treated. In general, the more treatments you have, the greater the potential for experiencing side-effects. Treatment to the head and neck area can cause dry mouth, mouth sores, taste changes and difficulty swallowing while treatments to the abdomen or pelvis can cause painful cramps or diarrhea. Notify your radiation therapist if you are experiencing side effects and a consult can be arranged with the dietitian to help manage your diet needs.
