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What is radiation therapy?
Radiation therapy, sometimes called radiotherapy, effectively treats cancer by using high-energy beams to pinpoint and destroy cancerous cells. Although radiation therapy is similar to an X-ray, the dose of radiation in cancer treatment is much stronger and is given over a longer period of time. Many forms of radiation are available. Your oncologist will choose the best therapy based on the type, stage and location of your cancer.
With careful planning, radiation can be directed to the cancer and away from most normal tissues. This means you may receive treatment on more than one side of your body or from different angles. You may also need more than one type of radiation, which may require the use of more than one machine.
What are the possible side effects?
Side effects depend on the part of the body being treated. Most go away a few weeks after treatment ends. Side effects may include: red, itching and peeling skin in your treatment area, fatigue, loss of appetite, and hair loss.
Will radiation therapy make me radioactive?
No. You can continue to enjoy the same contact with family and friends without fear of exposing them to radiation.
How do I make an appointment with Gulf Coast Cancer Centers?
Patients can refer themselves to Gulf Coast Cancer Centers for cancer diagnosis, treatment or screening. These forms are located on the web site under Patient Information, and all correspondence will be private and secure.
Patients, complete the Patient Self-Referral form to initiate the new patient appointment process. A Referral Specialist will call to collect the additional information that is required prior to confirming your appointment.
Physicians, complete the Physician Referral form to initiate the referral process. A Referral Specialist will contact your office to collect additional information.
What can I expect in the Radiation Treatment Center?
For your initial visit, be prepared to spend one to three hours in the Center. You will meet with the Radiation Oncology team for evaluation. If you decide to proceed, you will receive more information about your particular treatment and possible side effects. An appointment will be made for your planning session (simulation).
Who administers my treatment?
The radiation oncologist is responsible for designing your treatment plan, including the amount of radiation you will receive and the total number of treatment days. The radiation oncologist will also manage any medical problems that may develop during your treatment.
A radiation therapist delivers the prescribed treatment and will help you before, during and after treatments. All radiation therapists at Gulf Coast cancer Centers are licensed, certified professionals who have completed extensive education in radiation treatment delivery and patient care.
The health care team also includes other physicians, medical dosimetrists, physicists (specialists who use computers to help design treatment plans), radiation therapists and clinical assistants.
How often will I get radiation treatments?
Your daily treatments will probably be scheduled Monday through Friday, allowing you to rest on weekends.
Your daily appointment schedule will be as convenient for you as possible. Your radiation therapist will notify you of any holidays on which you will not receive treatments.
Your doctor will examine you and review your progress once a week. This scheduled check-up will take longer than the treatment visits. The nurses who see you during the check-up will work closely with you and the doctor to help you manage any side effects you may have. This is also the proper time to request refills for any medications that you may need to manage side effects.
Why do treatments last more than five weeks?
The large doses necessary to treat your tumor cannot be given at one time because of the severe side effects they would cause. On average, the course of treatment for radiation therapy takes 5 to 7 weeks. This time period enables your body to better tolerate the effects of the radiation.
Does radiation treatment hurt?
No. However, the treatment table can be a little uncomfortable. If you do experience pain during treatment, tell the radiation therapist. He or she will turn off the machine and come into the room. The radiation stops when the machine is turned off.
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Cancer support group information can be downloaded here.
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 | All Recipes are in pdf format for easy downloading and printing.
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Browse by Healthy Ingredient:
Soy | Whole Grains | Broccoli | Green Tea | Tomatoes | Brussels Sprouts | Garlic | Spinach | Beans
Beans (also known as legumes) include lentils, peas and many other bean varieties. The active ingredients in beans that seem to have a role in cancer prevention include saponins, protease inhibitors and phytic acid. These phytochemicals appear to protect cells from the type of genetic damage that can lead to cancer. Beans are also rich in fiber, and diets high in fiber have been repeatedly linked to lower risk of colorectal, pancreatic and breast cancers. Source: American Institute for Cancer Research
 Tomato and Bean Bruschetta
 Pasta Fagioli Soup
Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussels sprouts, bok choy and kale are a family of vegetables containing many components linked to lower cancer risk, including glucosinolates, crambene, indole-3-carbinol and, especially, isothiocyanates (which are derived from glucosinolates.)
Studies suggest that cruciferous vegetables help regulate a complex system of bodily enzymes that defend against cancer. Components of these vegetables have shown the ability to stop the growth of cancer cells in various cell and tissue models, including tumors of the breast, endometrium, lung, colon, liver, colon and cervix. Studies have also shown associated diets high in cruciferous vegetables lower risk for lung, stomach and colorectal cancers. Source: America Institute for Cancer Research, 2006
 Broccoli Bread
 Broccoli Salad
Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, bok choy and kale are a family of vegetables containing many components linked to lower cancer risk, including glucosinolates, crambene, indole-3-carbinol and, especially, isothiocyanates (which are derived from glucosinolates.)
Studies suggest that cruciferous vegetables help regulate a complex system of bodily enzymes that defend against cancer. Components of these vegetables have shown the ability to stop the growth of cancer cells in various cell and tissue models, including tumors of the breast, endometrium, lung, colon, liver, colon and cervix. Studies have also shown associated diets high in cruciferous vegetables lower risk for lung, stomach and colorectal cancers. Source: America Institute for Cancer Research, 2006
 Brussels Sprouts with Browned Garlic
Garlic belongs to the family of vegetables called Allium, which also includes onions, scallions, leeks and chives. These vegetables contain many substances now being studied for their anti-cancer effects. Laboratory research has shown that one garlic component, called diallyl disulfide, exerts potent preventive effects against cancers of the skin, colon and lung. Recently, this compound proved able to kill leukemia cells in the laboratory. A compound derived from garlic called ajoene has displayed similar activity. Components of garlic have shown the ability to slow or stop the growth of tumors in prostate, bladder, colon and stomach tissue. Source: American Institute for Cancer Research, 2006
 Chicken and Mushrooms in Garlic White Wine Sauce
Since ancient times, tea has been used as both beverage and medicine. Both black and green teas contain numerous active ingredients - polyphenols and flavonoids - that are potent antioxidants. One class of flavonoids called catechins have recently become the focus of widespread study for their anti-cancer potential. Tea is the best source of catechins in the human diet, and green tea contains about three times the quantity of catechins found in black tea. In laboratory studies, green tea has been shown to slow or completely prevent cancer development in colon, liver, breast and prostate cells. Other studies involving green tea have shown similar protective effects in tissues of the lung, skin and digestive tract. Source: American Institute for Cancer Research, 2006
 Iced Mint Tea
 Green Tea Ice Cream
The soy foods include tofu, soymilk, soybeans, soynuts, miso (soy paste), tempeh, soy burgers and soynut butter. Active ingredients in soy that research has shown to have anti-cancer effects are isoflavones (which have been the most studied), saponins, phenolic acids, phytic acid, phytosterols, and protein kinase inhibitors. Studies involving soy have demonstrated a protective effect against cancer in the cells and tissues of the bladder, cervix, lung and stomach. Preliminary evidence suggests diets high in soy may help make breast, cervical, ovarian, head and neck cancer cells more sensitive to the effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Source: American Institute for Cancer Research, 2006
 Sunrise Smoothie
 Tofu Fruit Smoothies
Spinach, a leafy green, is one of the healthiest vegetables because it is rich in a variety of
nutrients including calcium, iron, potassium, vitamins A, K, and C. A study published in 2004 by the
Journal of Nutrition found that spinach combats prostate cancer, while other studies have shown
spinach may protect vision and bolster cardiovascular health. On top of that, it tastes great!
 Spinach and Orzo Salad
 Chicken, Spinach, and Mushroom Crepes
 Creamy Spinach Lasagna
The red or pink color of fruits such as tomatoes, watermelon, papaya, pink guava and pink grapefruit comes chiefly from a carotenoid called lycopene. This potent antioxidant, together with a group of related compounds collectively called the ìred family,î has displayed anti-cancer potential in a variety of studies. There is evidence that this potential is increased if tomatoes are consumed in a processed form that allows these natural compounds to be released and more easily absorbed, such as tomato sauce, tomato paste, and tomato juice.
Antioxidants can help protect against the kind of damage that gets cancer started, and the antioxidant nature of compounds within tomatoes has long been known. Studies have shown that tomato components have stopped the proliferation of several cancer cell types, including breast, lung, and endometrium. Tomatoes have attracted particular attention from prostate cancer researchers because lycopene and its related compounds tend to concentrate in tissues of the prostate. Source: American Institute for Cancer Research, 2006
 Corn and Sun-Dried Tomato Quesadilla with Smoked Mozzarella
 Fontina, Olive, and Tomato Pizza with Basil Whole Wheat Crust
Whole grains are rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals and hundreds of phytochemicals. They contain several substances that have each been linked to lower cancer risk, including fiber (both soluble and insoluble), antioxidants, phenols, lignans, phytoestrogens and saponins. Whole-grain foods include brown rice, wheat breads, rolls, pasta and cereals; whole grain oat cereals such as oatmeal; popcorn, wild rice, tortilla and tortilla chips; corn, kasha (roasted buckwheat) and tabouleh (bulghur wheat.)
Because of the wide range of anti-cancer ingredients they contain, diets high in whole grains may decrease cancer risk in general, and specifically the growth rate of breast cancer, via several simultaneous and synergistic methods. Source: American Institute for Cancer Research, 2006
 Almond-Crusted French Toast
 Whole Wheat Buttermilk Pancakes
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