Radiation - Nausea and Loss of Appetite

[randyn]

Hi,

I recently started radiation treatments and had 3 so far. I have been feeling nauseous ever since starting, although I haven't actually vomited. I thought that over the weekend I'd start to feel better, but even this morning (Monday) before going for any treatments, I still feel it. I haven't eaten very much since starting the treatments.

I have a prescription for Zofran which I was trying not to use unless it gets really bad since it's so expensive, but maybe I should.

Does anybody have any advice about this? I really didn't expect radiation to be a big deal. From talking to my doctors and reading some online about it, everybody seemed to make radiation out to be a relatively easy process. I'm sure that compared to chemo it is much easier, but it's starting out worse than I expected. And it will probably get worse, right?

Randy

[dadmo]

Holy Smokes!!! You're not taking you're Zofran? I will be amazed if anyone here say's much other then PLEASE TAKE THE ANTI-NAUSEA MEDS. Oh and they will also welcome you to the forum.

[Margaret]

Randy, there are many choices out there other than Zofran than could be cheaper...but no matter that you take, take something. You can't keep your engery levels up if you are not eating.

Try to eat every 2 hours...little things...high carb items will help with feeling sick to your stomach.

[mstlyn]

Anthony did not have radiation, but for chemo he had zofran, decadron, and compazine. These controlled the nausea very well and the decadron increased his appetite.

Zofran is very expensive and we had a hard time getting the insurance to approve Anthonys refill.

There was another anti nausea med that was mentioned that is also very expensive, I don't recall what it was though.

Compazine is not expensive though I don't know how well it would work by itself.

[Margaret]

Anthony did not have radiation, but for chemo he had zofran, decadron, and compazine. These controlled the nausea very well and the decadron increased his appetite.

Zofran is very expensive and we had a hard time getting the insurance to approve Anthonys refill.

There was another anti nausea med that was mentioned that is also very expensive, I don't recall what it was though.

Compazine is not expensive though I don't know how well it would work by itself.

Kytril may be what you are thinking of. It is very pricy, but works very well. Also, Emend is also very good and may be covered by your insurance. If you do not have coverage for meds, please ask the cancer center where you are being treated and they may be able to help you.

[dadmo]

Randy:
The facility that's giving you your radiation treatments may have some samples of anti-nausea medication that you can have.

[randyn]

Thanks for the feedback. I have insurance that covers a good bit of the cost of the drugs, I just didn't want to be wasteful with them seeing how much it costs. I think after this feedback I'll go ahead and start using them.

I think I just needed somebody to say that it was the right thing to do and I wasn't just being a big baby

Randy

[mstlyn]

Kytril may be what you are thinking of. It is very pricy, but works very well. Also, Emend is also very good and may be covered by your insurance. If you do not have coverage for meds, please ask the cancer center where you are being treated and they may be able to help you.

Margaret,

Yes thats the one I was thinking of.

Thanks!

[dadmo]

Big baby?? I could be sick just thinking of you not taking the zofran.

[Margaret]

Big baby?? NEVER!! Just fighting cancer makes you a tough guy in my book. take all the meds they will give you....eat as often as you can and re-gain your strength. You are going to need it.

Let us know how we can help.

[kellyrulez]

Hi,

Does anybody have any advice about this? I really didn't expect radiation to be a big deal. From talking to my doctors and reading some online about it, everybody seemed to make radiation out to be a relatively easy process. I'm sure that compared to chemo it is much easier, but it's starting out worse than I expected. And it will probably get worse, right?

Randy

Hi,

I recently completed RT for stage Ia seminoma. From my research I was also under the impression that it wouldn't be a big deal- incorrectly.

My rad onc initially prescribed compazine (a cheap anti-nausea med) which didn't work. I had severe nausea and vomited multiple times after the treatments. My medical team was very nice and I got samples of Kytril (a very expensive anti-nausea med) for free. Kytril eliminated the vomiting and eased the nausea. I got enough samples for the entire treatment.

So, please ask your medical team for samples, I'm sure they have a few to spare. Also, don't take RT lightly. It's cumulative and the side effects will get worse. I felt incredibly tired, exhausted, and often queasy during the second half of my treatment. Take care of yourself.

[tlh]

It looks like your diagnoses and treatment run parallel with mine (Seminoma, Adj, RT therapy). I was given the anti-nausea drugs but thankfully other than feeling queasy a lot of the time, I never experienced any sickness. I have to preface this by saying I also did next to nothing while getting treated. I took 3 weeks off of work and other than play golf once or twice I basically just hung around the house and took it easy. RT affects everyone differently. Although I didn't get sick, I started getting fatigued almost from the very beginning. Never be concerned because you don't think you tolerate this as well as everyone/anyone else. I've personally talked with people that got sick right off the bat and others that tolerated it so well you wouldn't have even known they were getting radiation. When it comes to this treatment listen to your body and definitely speak up to your Rad Onc and let him know what's going on with your body so he can adjust meds. BTW - where do you live in PA?

TLH

[randyn]

Thanks for your replies. They have been very helpful. I started taking the Zofran 1 hour before my treatments and it has been helping a great deal. I still don't have my regular appetite and sometimes feel a little queasy, but I'm eating and feeling better over all.

Thanks again for you comments. I wish I had found this board earlier.

Randy

[randyn]

BTW - where do you live in PA?

I'm from Lancaster

Randy

[rjs]

randyn -
sorry to hear you had a rough start to your treatment. i followed the same path and was able to tolerate the nausea, but as has been noted here already - everyone is different and you should listen to your body. take the meds if it helps and rest as much as possible as the fatigue will grow over the course of the treatments.

i know its hard to eat. but i did find that when i was feeling the most nausea it actually helped to eat a little something (SLOWLY) and maybe a 7-up or sprite to help settle the stomach. it helped me and not all foods will seem appealing for now, but getting something into your stomach does seem to help.

have no qualms about how you feel compared to what others felt or what you were told. everyone is different and the important thing is you listen to your body.