Learning About Preventing Gas During Prostate Radiation Treatment

Prostate radiation therapy uses radiation to kill cancer cells in the prostate. For the treatment to work well, your body needs to be in the same position each time you come in.

Gas in your rectum can move your prostate out of place. When that happens, the radiation may not hit the right spot. Too much gas can also push your bowel into areas being treated, which can cause problems.

Keeping your rectum clear of gas and stool helps the treatment work the right way. It can also help with bloating and stomach discomfort.

Changing what you eat can help reduce gas. These additional habits can also help:

• Eat slowly and chew your food well.
• Don't eat or drink too fast.
• Don't use straws.
• Don't talk while eating.
• Avoid chewing gum.
• Don't smoke, vape, or use other tobacco or nicotine products. If you need help quitting, talk to your doctor about quit programs and medicines. These can increase your chances of quitting for good.
• Drink still water or juice instead of soda or sparkling water.
• Drink lukewarm fluids instead of very hot fluids. Hot drinks can make you swallow more air.
• If dairy upsets your stomach, try lactose-free products or lactase tablets.
• Eat at regular times each day and avoid skipping meals.

Staying active and drinking enough water can help keep your bowels moving. Try to drink at least 8 cups (64 oz) of water each day.

Some supplements may help with gas, such as digestive enzymes, glutamine, bromelain, and ginger. Always ask your doctor or a dietitian before taking any supplement, especially during treatment.

If you have constipation or diarrhea, let your care team know.

Some foods make more gas than others. And foods can affect people differently. It can help to keep track of which foods bother you most.

Foods that may cause more gas include:

• Legumes, suchas beans, lentils, peas, and soybeans.
• Cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower.
• Other vegetables such as corn, onions, garlic, leeks, leafy greens, and most raw vegetables.
• Certain fruits such as prunes, prune juice, apple juice, dried fruit, and ripe bananas.
• High-fiber foods, such as bran cereals, whole grains, and other fiber-rich foods.
• Dairy products such as milk, ice cream, and other products with lactose (especially if you are lactose intolerant).
• Carbonated drinks, such as soda, sparkling water, and other fizzy drinks.
• Sugar-free candies or gum with sweeteners that end in "-ol," like sorbitol, mannitol, or xylitol.

Foods that tend to cause less gas include:

• Lean proteins, such aschicken, turkey, fish, eggs, and shrimp.
• Low-fiber grains, such aswhite bread, white rice, regular pasta, white or corn tortillas, rice cakes, oats, and grits.
• Low-lactose dairy or dairy alternatives (if you're lactose intolerant), such as hard cheeses, Greek yogurt, lactose-free milk, almond milk, and coconut milk.
• Fruits such as cantaloupe, grapes, kiwi, mandarin oranges, oranges, pineapple, strawberries, and unripe bananas.
• Vegetables such as carrots, cucumber, eggplant, green beans, lettuce, potato, spinach, sweet potato, tomato, zucchini, yellow squash, and spaghetti squash.

Peeled or cooked fruits (like applesauce or peeled apples) are usually easier to digest than raw fruit with the skin on. Also, steaming or cooking vegetables can help lower the amount of gas they cause. So can removing skins and seeds.