Cancer Patient Family Network

Read the information in the draft pamphlet or below regarding information about Pelvic Radiation then answer a few simple questions at the end. Thank you for helping us! 

You can send us your feedback up to January 17, 2025. 

To download the draft pamphlet click here: https://www.engage4health.ca/43333/widgets/185793/documents/145336 

Pelvic Radiation Patient Information_draft

What Happens During My Simulation Markings Appointment?

Your first visit to the radiation therapy department is called your simulation markings appointment. This appointment will take about 45 minutes. Follow any instructions you are given about your bladder and bowel preparation.

During this visit, you will have a CT scan (a special kind of X-ray) while lying on your back with your arms above your head. It's important that you stay still during the scan. Your Radiation Therapists will make sure you are as comfortable as possible and will explain everything they are doing. The CT scan will help them plan your radiation treatments.

At the end of your appointment, your Radiation Therapists may give you small tattoo markings. These are used to help position you the same way for each treatment. After your appointment, you might have some extra ink on your skin, but it will wash off when you get home.

If you have any questions, your radiation treatment team will be happy to answer them. You can also bring someone with you to your appointment for support.

When Will My Radiation Treatments Begin?

After your simulation markings appointment, you will usually wait a few weeks before your treatments start. This is because it takes time to create a treatment plan just for you. You will be notified of your treatment start date once the plan is ready, and the machine has been scheduled. The team will try to start your treatments as soon as possible.

How Long Will My Radiation Treatments Take?

Your radiation treatments will usually last between 1 and 7 weeks. Treatments are usually given 5 days a week (Monday to Friday), but this might change depending on the holidays. Each treatment will take about 15 to 45 minutes.

If you need to see your Radiation Oncologist or Oncology Nurse on the same day, your visit might take longer.

What Side Effects Can I Expect?

Radiation to the pelvic area usually causes mild to moderate side effects. Most people start noticing side effects about halfway through their treatments. These side effects tend to get worse in the 1 or 2 weeks after your treatment ends and may go away in the next 4 to 8 weeks. If you have any questions during your treatments, ask your radiation treatment team.

Here are some common side effects:

For more information on managing fatigue, you can read the pamphlet on Managing Cancer-Related Fatigue here:
 Nova Scotia Health: Managing Cancer-Related Fatigue

For tips on caring for your skin during radiation, read the Skin Care During Radiation Therapy pamphlet here:
 Nova Scotia Health: Skin Care During Radiation Therapy

For more information, read the pamphlet on Managing Diarrhea here:
 Nova Scotia Health: Diarrhea

For bladder irritation, read the pamphlet on Managing Cystitis here:
 Nova Scotia Health: Cystitis

Will Radiation Treatments Affect My Sexual Health?

Cancer treatments, including radiation, can cause changes in your sexual health. These changes can happen during treatment and may last for a while after treatment ends. You might not feel interested in sexual activity, or it could feel different than before. Sometimes, people experience changes in how they view themselves or in how their partner reacts. If you want to talk about this, ask your radiation therapy team for help.

Vulvar/vaginal tissue:

• The vagina might get dryer and more irritated, which can have sex uncomfortable. If it hurts, take a break from sexual activity until you feel better.
• Your menstrual cycle (period) may become irregular or stop during treatment. Sometimes, radiation can lead to early menopause (when periods stop permanently).
• After treatment, your vagina might become narrower or less flexible. You might need to use a vaginal dilator to help keep things comfortable.

Penile tissue :

• Some people may have trouble getting or keeping an erection after radiation. This can happen because the radiation affects the nerves and blood vessels. These changes may not happen right away and could take months or even years to show up.
• If this happens, talk to your radiation team early. There are ways to help with this, and it's better to start treatment sooner rather than later.

Will Radiation Treatments Affect My Ability to Have Children?

If you are worried about how radiation might affect your fertility (ability to have children), talk to your Oncologist. It’s important to discuss this before you start treatment, so you can make plans if needed. If fertility preservation is important to you, your treatment may need to be delayed until you can meet with the fertility specialists.

Helpful Resources

Books:

• Lives Interrupted: Women and Gynaecological Cancer by David Allen and Genevieve Green, 2018
• The Gynaecological Cancer Guide: Sex, Sanity and Survival by Margaret Heffernan & Michael Quinn, 2012
• Woman Cancer Sex by Anne Katz, 2009

Websites:

• Canadian Cancer Society: Sex, Intimacy and Cancer
• American Cancer Society: How Pelvic Radiation Can Affect Sex
• Sexual Health Information
• National Cancer Institute: Coping with Self-Image

You can also find more information and helpful resources on the Nova Scotia Health website:
 Nova Scotia Health: Cancer Care Program

Questions?

If you have any questions or concerns about what you’ve read, please talk to your radiation treatment team during your next appointment.

Read the information in the draft pamphlet or below about Breath Hold Technique then answer a few simple questions at the end. Thank you for helping us! 

You can send us your feedback up to January 17, 2025. 

To download the draft pamphlet click here: https://www.engage4health.ca/43333/widgets/185793/documents/145335 

Breath Hold Technique

Why is the breath hold technique useful?

Holding your breath stops your chest from moving and helps to keep you still. Many organs move when you breathe. When you hold your breath, these organs move less while you have the radiation treatment. Breath hold  can help ensure the treatment is stays focused on the cancer and not on other areas.

What is the breath hold technique?

The breath hold technique means you need to hold your breath during your CT scan and treatment. You must be able to hold your breath for at least 20 seconds. This breath hold maybe be done when you inhale or exhale. Your radiation therapy team will give you instructions.

How do I do the breath hold technique?

You will need to take a breath in or out and hold for at least 20 seconds during the CT scan and the treatment.  You will need to do this many times. When asked by the radiation therapists to hold your breath, it is important to hold your breath in or out as comfortably as you can. Practice is required before you come in for your CT scan and treatment to make sure you can perform the technique. The radiation therapists will also review this with you when you come in for your appointment.

For inspiration(inhale) breath hold patients:

• When practicing, lie flat on your back (do not arch) with both arms above your head.
• Using either the mouth or nose whichever is easiest for you, take a breath in and hold.
• The goal is to take slow, comfortable, even breaths in each time.
• Hold your breath for 20-25 seconds without letting any air in or out.
• Use a watch or timer to keep track of how long you can hold your breath. You may only be able to hold your breath in for a short time, but don’t give up. Keep trying! Keep practicing holding your breath for as long as you can and it will get easier.
• Continue to practice 15-20 times in a row with a few normal breaths in between, for a minimum of 2 times a day.

For expiration (exhale) breath hold patients:

• When practicing, lie flat on your back (do not arch) with both arms above your head.
• Using either the mouth or nose whichever is easiest for you, take a breath in, blow it out and hold.
• The goal is to take slow, comfortable, even breaths out each time.
• Hold your breath out for 20-25 seconds without letting any air in or out.
• Use a watch or timer to keep track of how long you can hold your breath. You may only be able to hold your breath out for a short time, but don’t give up. Keep trying! Keep practicing holding your breath for as long as you can and it will get easier.
• Continue to practice 15-20 times in a row with a few normal breaths in between, for a minimum of 2 times a day.

Video Display

To help you see how big a breath you need to hold, the radiation therapists can instruct you to look at a  video display during your CT scan and treatment. This video display will show your breathing. You will be able to see if you are taking enough air into or out of your lungs.

The pictures below show what you will see on the monitor. A white bar shows your breathing. This bar will move up and down as you breathe in and out.

When you hold in your breath, the white bar will move from the blue area, into the green area. When the bar moves into the green area, the radiation therapist will tell you when to hold your breath and the treatment will start. The radiation therapist will let you know when to release your breath and can breathe normally.

Treatment

The radiation therapists will help you onto the treatment table. They will use the marks given during the planning CT scan to position you for treatment. A special camera and equipment will monitor your breathing with the help of a small plastic block taped to your abdomen (stomach area).

The radiation therapists will show you the video display and will help you practice your breath hold several times.

When you are ready, the radiation therapists will leave the room. They will use a camera and intercom system to monitor you. They will give you instructions on when to take a breath in or out and when to breathe normally.

This will continue until your treatment is finished. The breath hold is required to be done several times to complete your treatment.

Thank you for your interest to join one of our teams as a Patient Family Advisor.

Our health care system learns from your experience. Help us shape the future

Nova Scotia Health has made a commitment to involve patients and families in establishing priorities and making decisions that matter to them and impact their lives, our community and the sustainability of our health care system.

You might choose to fill out this form to express your interest to become a volunteer Patient Family Advisor. When opportunities come available, we will reach out to you directly! 

No special knowledge or skills are needed. The ideal person is someone who can use their experience as a patient or family/caregiver to help shape the care we provide.

You might like this role on one of our committees if:

• You can talk about your experience to help us make improvements for all Nova Scotian cancer patients.
• You can share honest points of view in a respectful way.
• You are interested to work in a collaborative committee environment.
• You are interested in making a positive contribution to health care services.
• You are interested in volunteer work. 

Those selected will need to:

• Be a person with recent personal or family/caregiver experience with the Cancer Care Program. (cancer screening, treatment, survivorship)
• Be 18 years of age or older.
• Sign a confidentiality agreement.
• Be willing to obtain a Criminal Record Check. (no cost to you)
• Declare any potential conflicts of interest.
• Be able to commit to attend meetings typically during business hours.

Once you fill out the form below, a member of the cancer care team will reach out to you. 

Please Note: These are volunteer positions. Current NS Health employees, Hospital Foundation members, Community Health Board members, and elected officials are not eligible to apply. NS Health is committed to being a workforce that is free of discrimination, values diversity and is representative, at all job levels, of the people we serve. Our priority groups are Aboriginal People, African Nova Scotians, Persons with Disabilities and Recent Immigrants. Members of these groups are welcome to apply and self-identify if they wish to be considered under our Employment Equity policy.