FAQs

COMMON QUESTIONS

If you are interested in coming to Rio Bravo Cancer Center for treatment, you first need to call (tel:661-491-5060) to make an appointment. The receptionist will let you know what you need to do. Here is a list of things to bring with you when you come in for the first time.

Any medical records
Recent doctor notes
Any recent labs
Recent pathology
Scans (MRI, CT, PET, Bone Scan, Ultrasound)
Films
Insurance cards
Forms (upon calling the Cancer Center, the needed forms will be sent to you along with a map to the Center)

During your consultation with the doctor, he will:

Collect your history
Review results of tests and pathology reports you brought with you
Perform a physical exam
Review with you your cancer
Review and discuss your treatment options

All your test and laboratory results are important for your doctor to make the best decision in outlining your treatment options for you. If you were not able to obtain all your information prior to the consultation, it is important to make sure that the results of your tests are forwarded to the doctor.

Radiation treatments are designed to be localized and site specific. For this reason, any potential side effects would be directly related to what area is being treated. Common concerns for skin cancer treatments with radiation include erythema (inflammatory redness of the skin), pigmentation (darkening of the skin due to increased production of melanin), and dry/moist desquamation. Side effects can range and vary depending on where the diseased skin may be located. Long-term side effects include fibrosis (scarring) of the tissue and skin pigment changes.

BRAIN TUMORS

Patients can experience some hair loss which may be permanent. They can also have headaches and fatigue. Your physician may start you on a steroid medication to decrease the swelling in the brain during radiation. Long term, patients may experience mild to moderate temporary memory problems depending on what part of the brain receives radiation. Patients also occasionally experience transient taste changes. If you have seizures, you may need to take anti-seizure medication.

BREAST CANCER

The actual radiation treatments are painless, however the side effects may bother you. Common side effects are redness and irritation of the skin in the area being treated. Some patients may experience skin dryness, tingling, throbbing, peeling, and discoloration in the treated area. Skin reactions may appear within 2 weeks of treatments. However, each patient’s reactions are unique. Side effects are reversible and usually subside in 2-3 months after treatment.

GASTROINTESTINAL CANCER

Radiation treatments are designed to be localized and site-specific. For this reason, any potential side effects are directly related to the area being treated. Common acute side effects during treatments with radiation include redness of the skin, trouble eating, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss. Long-term side effects can vary depending on the area treated. Most side effects are temporary.

Dietary restrictions will depend on what part of the gastrointestinal system is being treated. Patients who experience difficulty eating should consume a high-calorie liquid/soft diet (such as protein shakes) to help maintain body weight. Patients that are at risk for diarrhea should minimize their fiber intake. If you have loose stools or diarrhea, we recommend eating plain oatmeal, white rice, ripe bananas, applesauce, white toast, canned fruit without the skins, such as peaches and pears, white pasta noodles, cream of rice cereal, and plain unsweetened graham crackers. If you have diarrhea, make sure you are adequately hydrated with fluids.

GYNELOGICAL CANCER

Radiation treatments are designed to be localized and site-specific. For this reason, any potential side effects are directly related to the area being treated. Common acute side effects during radiation treatments to the pelvis include redness of the skin, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss. Long-term side effects can vary depending on the area treated. Most side effects are mild and temporary.

Patients at risk for diarrhea should minimize their fiber intake. If you have loose stools or diarrhea, we recommend eating plain oatmeal, white rice, ripe bananas, applesauce, white toast, canned fruit without the skins, such as peaches and pears, white pasta noodles, cream of rice cereal, and plain unsweetened graham crackers. If you have diarrhea, make sure you are adequately hydrated with fluids.

Depending on the site that gets radiation, patients can have dry mouth, mouth sores, taste changes, trouble swallowing, weight loss, and a skin reaction like a sunburn. Most of the side effects do resolve with time. Some patients, however, experience a permanently dry mouth due to radiation to the salivary glands.

If you develop mouth sores, your oral cavity and throat may be susceptible. Spicy foods and carbonated beverages may irritate these areas more. Do not smoke or drink during treatment; it can worsen your side effects and delay recovery. Towards the latter part of the treatment, you will most likely be eating soft foods and perhaps a liquid diet. We advise that you take in at least six cans of Ensure/Boost to help keep your weight stable. Shakes with added protein also aid in recovery.

Most patients will start to eat solid foods two months after finishing radiation. It is a slow recovery process before most patients are back eating a solid diet. Taste changes may persist for up to 6 months to a year. Most patients do gain most of their taste back. The salivary function will also improve in the first couple of years. Recovery of salivary function depends heavily on the location of the cancer and the dose of radiation given.

HEAD & NECK CANCER

LUNG CANCER

Radiation treatments are designed to be localized and site-specific. For this reason, any potential side effects are directly related to what area is being treated. Common acute side effects during treatments with radiation include erythema (inflammatory redness of the skin), dermatitis (inflammation of the derma), esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus), and dysphagia (as a result of esophagitis). Patients may also develop a mild cough during treatment. Possible chronic side effects that may occur include dry cough, lung fibrosis, and subcutaneous skin fibrosis. Side effects can range and vary depending on where the disease in the lung may be located.

Patients may experience urination symptoms such as burning, frequency, urinating more at night, and weak stream. They may also note loose stools and diarrhea. These are reversible side effects that usually subside in 2-3 months. Long-term patients may have a decrease in sexual function from the radiation. Patients may also note fatigue which subsides typically one month after treatment.

They usually happen a few hours after the HDR brachytherapy implant and subside in a few days. For external beam radiation, these side effects typically occur 2-3 weeks into treatment and progressively get worse until the end of treatment. At the end of treatment, most patients’ side effects are only mild to moderate. Very few patients get severe side effects with our sophisticated radiation planning and treatment methods.

A regular healthy diet is recommended. No special diet is necessary. However, if you have loose stools or diarrhea, we recommend eating plain oatmeal, white rice, ripe bananas, applesauce, white toast, canned fruit without the skins, such as peaches and pears, white pasta noodles, cream of rice cereal, and plain unsweetened graham crackers. If you have diarrhea, make sure you are adequately hydrated with fluids.

At Rio Bravo Cancer Center, we are proud to offer rectal spacer technology. This allows us to safely deposit a hydrogel compound which pushes the rectum away from the high-dose radiation field. This allows for fewer side effects and complications to the rectum. This technique is now being utilized and researched by numerous radiation institutions. Speak to your radiation oncologist at the Rio Bravo Cancer Center for more information.

PROSTATE CANCER

SKIN CANCER

Radiation treatments are designed to be localized and site-specific. For this reason, any potential side effects would be directly related to what area is being treated. Common concerns for skin cancer treatments with radiation include erythema (inflammatory redness of the skin), pigmentation (darkening of the skin due to increased melanin production), and dry/moist desquamation. Side effects can vary depending on where the diseased skin may be located. Long-term side effects include fibrosis (scarring) of the tissue and skin pigment changes.

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