side effects of treatment

Radiotherapy can make the area being treated redden, darken and become sore or itchy. 

This tends to start 1 to 2 weeks after treatment begins. 

When caring for your skin during radiotherapy you should:

• use your usual soap and cooler water to wash your skin gently every day 
• avoid rubbing your skin dry after washing, but pat your skin with a soft towel instead
• follow advice from your care team about using moisturisers
• you can use your usual deodorant unless your skin becomes irritated
• do not use laser, wax, or hair-removal creams and avoid shaving the area if possible
• avoid using heat or cold packs on the area
• try wearing loose-fitting clothes made from natural fibres such as cotton or silk, and avoid tight bands, ties or straps on the sore area
• protect your skin from the sun during treatment, and for one year after treatment ends. Use a high-factor sunscreen (SPF 50 or above)
• check with your care team if you should stop swimming – chlorine in the water can sometimes make your skin worse when you're having radiotherapy
• stop using any products on your skin if your skin breaks

Skin problems usually settle within 2 to 4 weeks of treatment finishing, but 

sometimes your skin might stay slightly darker or lighter than it was before. 

Tell your care team if you notice any soreness or changes to your skin. 

Having radiotherapy may make you feel tired a lot of the time or become tired very easily from doing everyday activities. 

This usually starts during treatment and can continue for several weeks or months after treatment finishes. 

It can help to:

• get plenty of rest and pace yourself
• Going for a short walk may help or some gentle exercise for about 30minutes every day.
• Eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of fluids
• Ask others to help with every day jobs

 If you're working, you may want to ask your employer for time off or to let you work part-time until your treatment has finished. 

Contact your care team if you suddenly feel very tired and out of breath. This can be a sign of a lack of red blood cells (anaemia), which may need to be treated. 

Radiotherapy only causes hair loss in the area being treated, unlike the hair loss in chemotherapy.

Hair loss is a common side effect of radiotherapy. Ask your care team to show you exactly where your hair is likely to fall out.

Your hair will usually start to fall out 2 to 3 weeks after treatment starts.

It should start to grow back a few weeks after treatment finishes, although sometimes it may be a slightly different texture or colour than it was before.

Occasionally, hair loss can be permanent if you have a high dose of radiotherapy. Ask your doctor if this is a risk before starting treatment.

Hair loss can be upsetting. Talk to your care team if you find losing your hair difficult to cope with. 

You may decide you want to wear a wig if you lose the hair on your head. Synthetic wigs are available free of charge on the NHS for some people, but you'll usually have to pay for a wig made from real hair. 

Some people feel sick during, or for a short time after, radiotherapy treatment sessions.

This is more likely to happen if the treatment area is near your stomach, or if your brain is being treated.

• Tell your care team if you feel sick during or after treatment. They can prescribe anti-sickness medicine to help.
• Replace meals with nutritious high calorific drinks

You should stop feeling sick soon after your treatment finishes.

 Radiotherapy can sometimes cause a sore or dry mouth, difficulty swallowing and taste changes. 

You may also lose your appetite. 

All of these side effects can affect how you feel about eating and drinking. 

• Your radiographer can advise on how to eat well during treatment. They can also arrange for you to see a dietician if you're having problems with eating and drinking. 
• If you're struggling to eat, you can add high energy drinks and protein to your diet, such as milkshakes or soups. You can also add protein powder to your normal food. 
• Avoid alcohol as this can make a sore mouth more sensitive or  digestion worse. 
• Avoid spicy foods. 

Diarrhoea is a common side effect of radiotherapy to the tummy or pelvic area. It usually starts a few days after treatment begins and may get a bit worse as treatment continues.

Diarrhoea should disappear within a few weeks of treatment finishing. 

• Tell your care team if you get diarrhoea. Medicine is available to help relieve it.
• Tell your doctor if your symptoms have not improved after a few weeks, or if you notice blood in your poo.