Other than when the actual treatment is being conducted, the operation of the equipment has been ceased and thus, radiation is not produced during this time including when changing clothes or preparing for treatment. Therefore, other than the time of treatment, you are not exposed to radiation and even the radiation that has been produced during the treatment becomes annihilated after it affects the cancer cells in the body; thus, there are not any remaining radiation in your body or on your clothes after the treatment. Hence, there is no need for you to avoid contact with others.

Contraceptive measures are recommended for at least a year following the radiation treatment and which applies to men as well.
If radiation is applied to the pelvis area, it can cause disorders to the reproductive organs. However, most are temporary and permanent disorders are uncommon. If necessary, consult with the doctor prior to the treatment to find appropriate measures. For women receiving radiotherapy near the pelvis, the treatment may trigger menopause. If menopause symptoms appear (including burning sensation in the face, numb sensations at the tip of hands and feet, and pain in joints), consult with your doctor.

If you were taking prescription medicine such as antihypotensives or medication for diabetes, you must inform and consult with your doctor about taking them. Inform your doctor if you are prescribed any medication or simultaneously receiving treatment from other medical offices. This is to gain effective treatment results by providing accurate information to your doctor.

For skin management, fully moisturize the skin using general moisturizers or baby lotion. The use of other products are not necessary. As the treatment progresses, the skin of the site where the radiation have been applied may turn dark similar to a sunburn or peel from excessively dry skin. In such cases, consult with your doctor to apply ointment or external remedies. Even the ointment used for treatment purposes should not be applied several hours before or during the radiotherapy. The skin membrane developed from the ointment may interact with the radiation to produce a greater damage to the skin. Also, do not scratch or rub the skin near the treatment site even if it itches. Avoid wearing tight clothing, and instead wear comfortable clothing made of cotton.
When receiving treatment on your head or neck, the mucous membrane in your mouth and skin near the treatment site become weak. Regular razors may stimulate your cut your skin. Therefore, the use of electric shavers are recommended.

Exercise and physical activities is known to decrease the death rate related to cancer among breast cancer and colon cancer patients. It also improves the quality of life and mental health conditions by decreasing the level of fatigue during the radiotherapy. Instead of intensive exercises, 30 minute walks performed 3-4 times a week, is recommended and the intensity level of the exercise should be controlled depending on the patient’s conditions. If excessive fatigue, difficulty in breathing, pain, or pyrexy occurs during the exercise, you must stop the exercise immediately. For more details relating to exercise during treatment, please contact your doctor or the Cancer Education Center.

Tumor is a highly wasting disease in which it may absorb the necessary nutrients needed for normal membrane growth. In most cases, appetite is decreased from the disease in the tumor itself. Therefore, food consumption may be difficult during the radiation treatment and careful management of nutrition is needed. Even if food consumption becomes difficult, consume foods that are easy to digest and high in nutrition and avoid binge eating by consuming small amount of food at a time. Always remember that a healthy diet can be the best treatment method.
 
1) What type of meals should I have during the radiotherapy?

• A particular type of food does not enhance radiotherapy results.

• It is important have a well balanced diet.

• High calorie and high protein food increases the treatment effects and rate of recovery.

2) Can I eat meat or sugary foods?
Yes. You can consume them.

• Since meat is high in protein, it is good to steady consume meat during the radiotherapy.
- Pork, chicken, beef, and dog meat  

• Although excessive consumption of sugar is not recommended, a moderate level of consumption okay because it helps fatigue management and calorie supplement. 
- animal fat including butter and cream, and also, sugar, chocolate, and honey

3) Can I eat raw foods such as raw beef and sashimi?
Yes. You can consume them.

• You can consume raw foods on the average.
- including fresh fruits, unprocessed vegetables, sashimi, raw beef, and fermented food
 However, raw foods are restricted when treatments with anticancer treatments as it may increase the risk of infection due to decreased level of immunity. In such cases, the medical team guides you through the restricted foods. Therefore, you should be attentive to your diet during this period.

4) Can I consume supplements such as red ginseng concentrate, Sanghwang Mushroom, green vegetable juice?
No. You should not consume them.

• Taking certain health supplements may have negative effects on the radiotherapy (For example:  liver function deterioration)

• Overdose of multivitamins and nutritional supplements can influence liver functions. Therefore, consultation with a medical representative is necessary.
※ Examples of certain health supplements that you should be cautious of
herbal medicine, concentrates (including red ginseng, ginseng, wild ginseng, fresh ginseng), Sanghwang Mushroom, Lingzhi Mushroom, green vegetable juice (including kale, angelica utilis, wild parsley), boiled water (including carp, eel, snakehead), cordyceps militaris, agaricus, elm juice, noni juice, chitosan, squalene, and Gaesoju
 
5) It is very difficult for me to eat food including soup. Can I receive nutrition supplement injections or fluids?
It may be necessary to receive nutritional supplements due to lack of oral ingestion and you should consult with a medical representative before deciding. In the case you cannot consume food, please inform the nurse or the doctor in charge.

During the radiotherapy, the level of energy consumption increases. Therefore, you may feel more tired during and after the radiotherapy. 
 On the average, the feeling of fatigue starts during the first 2~3 weeks of the treatment period and it may increase the treatment progresses. Although the level of fatigue differs per individual, most of the patients experience minor fatigue in which it does not interrupt with performing their daily activities. These type of fatigue may last up to weeks and sometimes months after the treatment, but it begins to decrease from 2~6 weeks after the treatment.

Unless the radiation is transferred to parts of your head, there should not be any loss of hair. If you receive radiation treatment in parts of your head, you may experience hair loss for up to 2~3 weeks of the treatment period. However, your hair will recover upon the completion of the treatment. The exact period of hair recovery varies per individual, and therefore, is difficult to predict. Also, patients receiving anticancer drugs may experience hair loss from the anticancer drugs. For some patients, hair density or thickness may decrease or hair growth may be delayed depending on the amount of radiation applied.

Other than the case of dot tattooing, refraining from taking showers during the treatment help the treatment process. In order to transfer radiation to the same site for every treatment, the mark of the treatment site should not be erased. If you absolutely feel the necessity to take a bath, it is recommended that you wash lightly avoiding the treatment site and refrain from going to public spas or saunas. During the treatment or up to 2~3 months after the treatment, the skin of your treated site may be weak. Therefore, avoid using rough towels and refrain from going to public spas and saunas. Take caution when washing your hair to avoid recurrence of the wound.  Use less stimulating shampoo (children shampoo) or neutral soap and use the tip of your fingers to avoid scrubbing your hair with your fingernail. Patients who are undergoing head and neck treatments should avoid washing their hair.