Delly, hydration is when a patient is given IV fluids to help them to avoid dehydration. The chemo lab is where the hospital gives chemo to their patients. When undergoing radiation treatments for OC, patients usually struggle with their intake. Getting extra fluids helps them to instantly feel better.

Recovery, like everything else is a very individual thing. From what Ive seen on this forum over the years I would estimate 60% of OC patients have varying degrees of struggling with rads. Another 30% of OC patients really struggle and have a very hard time with their treatments. Many end up hospitalized due to malnutrition and/or dehydration. Not meeting their daily minimums of at least 2500 calories and 48-64 oz of water plays a huge role in this 30% of patients. Then there is the lucky 10% who sail right thru barely noticing the side effects. Ive noticed these are the patients who push themselves with intake (usually exceeding the 2500 calories and getting 64 oz of water every single day). Many also have a light exercise program or even taking short daily walks. Usually the lucky 10% also do not have chemo which makes it slightly easier as well. But the chemo or no chemo is not really anything that the patient has control over, its their treatment plan. The one common thread is patients who do better with their daily calories and water will lose less weight and generally feel better than other patients who arent able to keep up the daily minimums.

Your father should have some sort of cream for his radiated area. There are many different ones both over the counter and prescription that will work. The common ones are aquaphor (nonprescription), silver sulfadine cream and beta val (both by prescription). cream never should be applied right before going into treatment as it could negatively affect the radiation area. Always use a thin coating and pat the cream on, letting it soak in, never rub it in. When I went thru rads, I would shower before I went for rads, after I finished I would pat the cream on my neck during the 45 minute the ride home. After a few hours I reapplied another thin layer of the cream and again before I went to bed. If his skin becomes oozing wounds from rads, he should still continue to use the cream but also cover the areas loosely with nonstick gauze. My neck was a mess, open oozing wounds, unbelievably it never scarred. It healed very quickly after finishing rads.

Your father should be sleeping on an incline if doing feedings at night. He should stay still after it is finished for at least a half hour.

Hope this info will help your father. Best wishes!!