Radiation therapy is a local treatment, meaning that it affects only the area of the body being treated. In people who are treated to the head and neck area, side effects include mouth sores and a sore throat. In those who undergo radiation therapy to the gastrointestinal tract, side effects can include nausea, diarrhea, and inflammation of the esophagus, the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach.
The good news is that by being proactive with their diets, people who undergo radiation therapy can favorably influence their quality of life. According to Dr. Kornmehl, a board certified radiation oncologist at St. Mary's Passaic Hospital, Passaic, NJ and author of the critically acclaimed consumer health book, “The Best News About Radiation Therapy,” a registered dietician should screen all screens radiation therapy patients. The dietician will evaluate the person’s baseline nutritional status and will then implement dietary intervention prior to the person’s initiating radiation therapy.
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