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This is a quick guide for bowel prep before and during your MSK Precise radiation therapy for prostate cancer. Read About MSK Precise® Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer for full instructions.
3 days before your simulation
- Start taking 2 (125 mg) simethicone (Gas-X®) tablets after breakfast and after dinner. Take them every day.
- Start taking 1 (5 mg) bisacodyl (Dulcolax®) tablet at night. Take it every night.
A nurse will give you a saline enema during your simulation appointment.
It’s OK to stop taking the simethicone and bisacodyl tablets after your simulation while your care team plans your treatments.
3 days before your first radiation treatment
- Restart taking 2 (125 mg) simethicone (Gas-X) tablets after breakfast and after dinner every day.
- Restart taking 1 (5 mg) bisacodyl (Dulcolax) tablet every night.
Keep taking simethicone (Gas-X) and bisacodyl (Dulcolax) every day until you finish radiation therapy. If your care team gives you other instructions, follow those instead.
During your radiation therapy
- Try to poop within 1 hour before your radiation treatment appointments. For example, if your appointment is at 9 a.m., try to poop between 8 a.m. and when you leave for your appointment. Ask your care team what to do if you travel more than 1 hour to your appointments.
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If you have not pooped within 1 hour before your appointment:
- Give yourself a saline enema before you leave for your appointment.
- Do not eat solid foods after giving yourself the enema. Only drink clear liquids, such as water, clear sports drinks (such as Gatorade), and clear fruit juice.
Tell your care team if you start to have diarrhea. We can help you adjust your bisacodyl dose.
Tell your care team if you’re following these instructions but still can’t poop before each treatment. We can adjust your bowel prep to find something that works better for you.
Helpful reminders
To reduce gas and bloating:
- Eat slowly, chew your food well, and avoid using drinking straws or drinking from bottles and cans. This will help you avoid swallowing air.
- Avoid carbonated drinks, such as seltzer, soda, and beer.
- Limit foods and drinks that produce gas when they’re digested. Examples include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, onions, garlic, dried fruits, and milk and dairy if you’re lactose intolerant. Read the section “Diet guidelines to limit bloating” in About MSK Precise® Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer for the full list.
- Choose cooked vegetables instead of raw vegetables.
To help fill your bladder:
- It’s important to stay well hydrated. Most people need to have a comfortably full bladder for their simulation and radiation treatments.
- We suggest you drink about 64 ounces (8 cups) of water each day leading up to your appointments, unless another healthcare provider has told you to limit the amount you drink.
- Your radiation therapist will give you more instructions during your simulation appointment.
