South Brisbane QLD 4101
Your treatment journey in 3 steps
Your treatment journey in 3 steps
Preparation for Bladder Radiation Therapy
Your doctor has recommended that you prepare your bladder and bowel, which involves emptying or filling your bladder, as well as emptying your bowels.
Benefits of bladder preparation
Bladder preparation is important as it helps minimize the side-effects of your treatment. Filling your bladder to a specific size keeps it small, reducing the radiation area, and maintaining its position each day, which ensures treatment accuracy. The diagram below demonstrates how bladder size affects the size of the treatment area.
The bladder is small sized.
The treatment area is smallest.
The bladder is medium sized.
The treatment area is larger.
The bladder is large sized.
The treatment area is largest.
Your radiation oncologist will determine the optimal level of fullness for your bladder, with the goal of maintaining the same level of fullness throughout your treatment.
How to prepare your bladder
If your doctor has asked for your bladder to be empty for your radiation appointments:
Avoid having any fluids 4 hours before your appointment.
Empty your bladder just before your appointment.
Benefits of bowel preparation
As your bowel/rectum fills and empties with gas or solids, your bladder may shift position. By emptying your bowel before treatment, you can help keep your bladder stable and ensure that radiation is delivered to the correct area. This can minimize certain side-effects of your treatment. The goal is to maintain the same level of bowel emptiness throughout your treatment.
Without gas or matter in the bowel.
All of bladder is inside the green treatment area.
All of bowel is outside the green treatment area.
✓
With gas or matter in the bowel.
Some of the bladder is outside of the green treatment area.
Some of the bowel is inside the green treatment area.
✗
How to prepare your bowels
Your doctor may recommend a stool softener to aid in your treatment. This medication can be obtained over-the-counter at your local pharmacy, and it is essential to follow the dosage instructions provided by your doctor to ensure its effectiveness.
In addition to this, going for short walks and consuming 6-8 cups of water daily can also be beneficial for your treatment and bladder preparation.
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To ensure an effective radiation therapy planning appointment, it is crucial to have empty bowels that are free of gas. To achieve this, you can start taking stool softening medication three days before your CT planning appointment, preferably in the evening with a glass of water. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day can aid in the effectiveness of the medication.
On the morning of your appointment, take the medication again and continue drinking plenty of water leading up to your appointment. Try to empty your bowels 1-3 hours before your appointment.
Once your appointment is over, you may discontinue the stool softening medication unless instructed otherwise by your doctor.
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For your radiation therapy treatment appointments, it is important that your bowels are empty and free of gas.
Start by taking the stool softening medication two days before your initial appointment, preferably in the evening with a glass of water. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day can aid in the effectiveness of the medication.
On the day of your appointment, take the stool softening medication with water and continue taking it throughout your treatment unless instructed otherwise by your doctor.
Frequently asked questions
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Having no fluid will help keep your bladder small. This keeps your bladder still and can reduce the side effects of your treatment.
If there are any concerns, please let a member of our radiation therapy team know.
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We personalise your care here at Radiation Oncology. Your doctor may still decide it is best for you to have stool softening agent even if you have regular bowel movements. Please speak to your Radiation Oncologist if you have any concerns about this.
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You can talk to a member of our Radiation Oncology team if you have not been able to move your bowels.
Often, going for a short walk will help get your bowels moving. Otherwise, there are things that can we can give to help get your bowels moving.