There will be an intercom if you need to speak to the person treating you. You need to keep as still as possible throughout the treatment. It usually only takes a few minutes and is completely painless.
You can usually go home soon after it has finished. Radioactive implants metal wires, seeds or tubes may be used to treat cancer in areas of the body where they can be placed inside the body without surgery such as the vagina.
The length of time the implant is left in your body varies. It could be a few minutes or a few days. In some cases, tiny implants may be left inside the body permanently. The radiation from the implants is painless, but it could be harmful to other people, so you may need to stay in hospital for a few days until the implant is removed. Permanent implants are not a risk to other people because they produce a very small amount of radiation that gradually decreases over time.
Some types of cancer, including thyroid cancer and some prostate cancer , can be treated with radioactive liquid that you swallowed or have injected. You may be radioactive for a few days after treatment is given, so you'll probably need to stay in hospital as a precaution until the amount of radiation has fallen to a safe level.
Your treatment team may give you some advice to follow for a few days when you get home, to avoid putting other people at risk. What physical side effects are likely based on my specific radiation therapy treatment plan? When will they likely begin? Could this treatment affect my ability to become pregnant or have a child? If so, should I talk with a fertility specialist before cancer treatment begins? Will special precautions be needed to protect my family and others from radiation exposure during my treatment period?
This 1-page printable PDF gives an introduction to radiation therapy, including an overview of the different types of radiation, what to expect during treatment, possible side effects, terms to know, and questions to ask the health care team. Why does radiation therapy cause side effects? Are there options to prevent or treat these side effects? What are common side effects of radiation therapy?
Common physical side effects of radiation therapy include: Skin changes. What are site-specific side effects of radiation therapy? Radiation therapy aimed at the chest may cause these side effects: Difficulty swallowing Shortness of breath Breast or nipple soreness Shoulder stiffness Cough, fever, and fullness of the chest, known as radiation pneumonitis.
Radiation therapy aimed at the stomach or abdomen may cause these side effects: Loss of appetite Nausea and vomiting Bowel cramping Loose stool or diarrhea These symptoms will likely go away after treatment.
Radiation therapy aimed at the pelvis may cause these side effects: Loose stool or diarrhea Rectal bleeding Incontinence, which is when a person is not able to control his or her bladder Bladder irritation Sexual problems for men, such as erectile dysfunction, which is the inability to get or maintain an erection Lowered sperm counts and reduced sperm activity. Changes in menstruation, such as having menstruation stop Symptoms of menopause , such as vaginal itching, burning, dryness, and other changes to sexual health for women If both ovaries receive radiation therapy, you may experience infertility.
What is radiation recall? Questions to ask the health care team What physical side effects are likely based on my specific radiation therapy treatment plan? How can these side effects be prevented or managed? How can I take care of the affected skin during my treatment period? Who should I tell when a side effect appears or gets worse? Are there specific side effects I should tell the doctor about right away? Who can I talk with if I'm feeling anxious or upset about having this treatment?
If I'm having side effects that affect my nutrition, can you recommend an oncology dietitian? What are other ways I can take care of myself during the treatment period? Are there any restrictions on exercising or other physical activity during this treatment? Could this treatment affect my sex life? If so, how and for how long? What are the potential long-term effects of this type of radiation therapy? If I'm worried about managing the financial costs of cancer care, who can help me?
You may feel ready to get on with your life after radiotherapy, but sometimes you may feel less positive. It can take time to recover and you may feel tired for a while. You may also have new challenges to cope with, such as physical effects caused by the cancer or its treatment.
It usually takes time to adjust to these and find out what is now normal for you. Complementary therapies may help you feel better and reduce any stress and anxiety. When your treatment is over, you may want to think about making some positive changes to your lifestyle.
Many people find that over time they settle back into their usual routines. But it is important to remember that support is available to help you with any physical or emotional problems you have. You may have questions about the different vaccines, or you may be worried about how the pandemic will affect your cancer treatment. We have detailed information about coronavirus and cancer treatment here.
We know cancer throws a lot your way, and right now, the coronavirus pandemic is making it even tougher. If you're worried about something, and you need to talk to someone, whatever is on your mind, we're here to listen. To speak to our experts, you can:.
Find out more about the Macmillan teams that are here to support you. Radiotherapy uses high-energy rays to treat cancer. On this page. What is radiotherapy? Understanding radiotherapy. This booklet is about radiotherapy. It is for anyone who is having radiotherapy or has been offered it as part Radiotherapy - easy read. An easy read booklet about radiotherapy.
Our easy read booklets use simple language and pictures to tell you Chemoradiation Some people may have chemotherapy at the same time as radiotherapy. Why am I having radiotherapy? You may have radiotherapy for different reasons: Radiotherapy to destroy a tumour and cure the cancer sometimes called radical treatment.
Radiotherapy to treat symptoms palliative radiotherapy. How will I have radiotherapy? There are two ways of having radiotherapy: External beam radiotherapy is given from outside the body externally by a radiotherapy machine. Internal radiotherapy is when a radioactive material is placed inside the body.
It is sometimes called brachytherapy or radioisotope therapy. Radiotherapy masks For most types of radiotherapy to your brain, head or neck area, you wear a mask during each treatment. Before you have radiotherapy Before you start your treatment, it needs to be planned carefully by your radiotherapy team. There are some things you should consider before having radiotherapy: Avoiding pregnancy or making someone pregnant.
Tell your doctor if you have a pacemaker, implantable cardiac device ICD or cochlea implant. Skin care. Arranging help at home and getting to appointments. Stopping smoking. Talking to employers or tutors. Planning your radiotherapy Your first planning session usually lasts 30 to 60 minutes, but it may take longer or need more than one visit.
Your session will usually involve the following: A discussion with your team. Having a CT scan of the area to be treated. Skin markings You may have markings made on your skin to help the radiographers position you accurately for treatment. Side effects of radiotherapy Your team plans your treatment carefully to reduce your risk of side effects. The side effects you have will depend on: the area of your body being treated - you may find it helpful to read information about the cancer type you have the type of radiotherapy you have other treatments you are also having, such as chemotherapy.
Your follow-up after radiotherapy After your radiotherapy has finished, your oncologist or radiographer will explain your follow-up. Your follow-up care may involve any of the following: You may not need follow-up appointments. While most people feel no pain when each treatment is being delivered, effects of treatment slowly build up over time and may include discomfort, skin changes, or other side effects, depending on where in the body treatment is being delivered.
The 2-day break in treatment each week allows your body some time to repair this damage. Some of the effects may not go away until the treatment period is completed. Let the health care professionals if you are experiencing side effects. Read more about the side effects of radiation therapy. Internal radiation therapy is also called brachytherapy. This includes both temporary and permanent placement of radioactive sources at the site of the tumor.
Typically, you will have repeated treatments across a number of days and weeks. These treatments may require a brief hospital stay.
You may need anesthesia to block the awareness of pain while the radioactive sources are placed in the body.
Most people feel little to no discomfort during this treatment. But some may experience weakness or nausea from the anesthesia. You will need to take precautions to protect others from radiation exposure. Your radiation therapy team will provide these instructions. The need for such precautions ends when:.
During your treatment, your radiation oncologist will check how well it is working. Typically, this will happen at least once a week.
If needed, they may adjust your treatment plan. Many people experience fatigue, sensitive skin at the site of radiation exposure, and emotional distress during radiation therapy. It is important to rest and take care of yourself during radiation therapy.
Consider these ways to care of yourself:. Learn more about coping during treatment. And, be sure to talk with your health care team about how you are feeling throughout your treatment period.
Once treatment ends, you will have follow-up appointments with the radiation oncologist. It's important to continue your follow-up care, which includes:. As your body heals, you will need fewer follow-up visits. Ask your doctor for a written record of your treatment. This is a helpful resource as you manage your long-term health care. Are there special services for patients receiving radiation therapy, such as certain parking spaces or parking rates?
Will special precautions be needed to protect my family and others from radiation exposure during my treatment period? This 1-page printable PDF gives an introduction to radiation therapy, including an overview of the different types of radiation, what to expect during treatment, possible side effects, terms to know, and questions to ask the health care team.
Who is on my radiation therapy team? This team may include the following health care professionals: Radiation oncologist.
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