How to Prepare your Rectum and Bladder for PMH

How to Prepare your Rectum and Bladder for
your CT Planning Scan and Radiation Treatments
Instructions for Prostate Cancer Patients with a Patient
Education Appointment
PMH
To ensure precise radiation treatment and to reduce possible side effects, you will need to have an
EMPTY rectum and a comfortably FULL bladder for your CT Simulation appointment and for
ALL your radiation treatment appointments.
Before starting your radiation treatment, you will be scheduled for a Patient Education
Patient Education
Improving health through education
appointment. A radiation therapist will meet with you and go over the preparation instructions on
this sheet.
Patient Education Appointment Date: _____________ Time:__________ (PMH, Level 1B)
CT Simulation Appointment Date: _____________ Time:__________ (PMH, Level 1B)
Why is it important for me to be properly prepared?
Properly preparing your rectum and bladder keeps the prostate at about the same position
everyday. This lets your health care team target the prostate with more accuracy during
your treatment, and lowers the amount of radiation that reaches your rectum and bladder.
Please visit the UHN Patient Education website for more health information: www.uhnpatienteducation.ca
© 2012 University Health Network. All rights reserved.
This information is to be used for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional
medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific
medical condition. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for non-commercial personal use only.
Author: Angela Cashell, Radiation Medicine Program
Created: 03/2011 (02/2012)
Form: D-5764
C034-D
What do I need to do to prepare myself before my appointments?
To prepare for your CT Simulation appointment and ALL your radiation treatment appointments follow
these instructions:
How to prepare an EMPTY rectum
• If you have regular (daily) bowel movements, you do not need to do anything different, as
your bowels should be fine for the CT Simulation and radiation treatment
• Avoid food or drink that may give you gas
• Do not skip meals
If you do not have bowel movements daily, OR if you have constant problems with gas in your
bowels, please talk to the Radiation Therapist on the day of the Pre-Treatment Education
Appointment.
To make sure you have a comfortably FULL bladder:
Follow these steps one (1) hour before your appointment:
• First, you need to empty your bladder
• Right after, drink 2 cups (500mls) of water, clear fluid or juice. Finish drinking one (1) hour
before your appointment.
• Do not empty your bladder after drinking. Your bladder will become full for your
appointment.
• When your appointment is finished, you can empty your bladder.
Please talk to your radiation therapist, oncology nurse or radiation oncologist if you have
trouble keeping your bladder full.
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