Is it normal to be bloated and feel a lot of abdominal pain during radiation therapy?

Yes: If treating in the abdomen with radiation, the intestines and stomach are rather sensitive. We see nausea, diarrhea, bloating and all of this can lead to feeling pain and discomfort. The level of this is patient dependent. Some feel very little while someone else gets the full enteritis that can even be seen on ct scans. We use various medications to treat these symptoms to complete treatment.

Possible: Depending on the body part being radiated. Radiation only effects the area being treated. So cramping and abdomenal pain that is usually manageable with medications can be expected when a person is getting radiation treatment to abdomen and pelvis area.

Assuming it is your: Abdominal area being treated, because this would be unheard of at any other site, symptoms are related to size/area/volume treated, and dose per exposure. Also, i would *not* ascribe pain to xrt, and would look for a cause: obstruction, perforation, fistula. We monitor you at least weekly to check for such symptoms. Your doctor needs to know, and provide a remedial plan.