How To Prepare Yourself For A Radiotherapy Treatment Session

Medically reviewed by Dr Johann Tang, Senior Consultant Radiation Oncologist

Preparing yourself for a radiation therapy session in Singapore can be a worrying and overwhelming experience. Patients often have numerous questions on the side-effects they will encounter, go through bouts of anxiety, and have concerns over how it may affect their day to day life.

Learning more about how radiation therapy works and what to expect, can put many of these worries to rest. Getting comfortable with the procedure, and mentally readying yourself can also go a long way in making the process much smoother and easier. Read on to find out how patients can prepare themselves for radiotherapy treatment.

Talking to your radiation therapy team

For patients in Singapore undergoing radiation therapy, there are a team of people involved in the procedure. From your primary care physician to the radiation oncologist, radiation oncology nurse, and other health care professionals, there will be many new faces you will encounter. 

Ideally, patients should seek to get comfortable with this team and not be afraid to ask questions or raise up concerns. Questions about the procedure, side-effects, precautions, and follow-up care are often encouraged and can help put your mind at ease.

Find ways to relax or release stress

Prior to your radiation therapy sessions, it might be useful for patients to explore ways they can mentally relax. Cancer diagnosis and radiotherapy treatment can be stressful for most people, and it’s important to prioritise your mental and physical health at this time.

For some people, it can be as simple as listening to your favourite music tracks or engaging in a hobby or exercise to take your mind off things. Try to find support within your family and circle of friends. Just having someone to talk to before, during, and after your radiotherapy sessions can be a huge boost for patients.

Organise your workload

Beyond de-stressing, it’s also important to ensure you make appropriate changes to your regular life. This will help make the transition to receiving radiation therapy easier. Talk to your colleagues to find ways to manage your workload and get support with daily chores like housework and cooking. 

Don’t attempt to do it all on your own. Instead, try to create a support system for yourself with help from family and friends so that you can focus solely on your health and prioritise treatment and recovery.

Planning for your treatments

In the midst of making arrangements in your working and home life, don’t forget to plan for your treatment itself. What are your transport arrangements going to be like? Do you have someone to drop you off and pick you up? Have you double checked the scheduled time? 

Try to go in early for your radiation therapy appointments to mentally prepare yourself. It’s one less thing to worry about if you reach on time. Lastly, make sure you have informed your radiation oncologist about any medical history or implants you may have. Also communicate with them if you are experiencing any side-effects or if you’re feeling nervous or anxious before the treatment.  After all, we are trained professionals who are here to help.

Going for radiation therapy sessions can be a nerve-wracking experience, especially for first-time patients. A little preparation, research, and support from those around you can go a long way in making the whole process that much easier.

Have a question about radiation therapy treatment? Talk to us today and send us your queries via our contact us page and we’ll get back to you promptly.