Radiotherapy destroys cancer cells but it also has an effect on normal cells. This causes side effects. Some side effects, like tiredness are more general and can occur no matter what part of your body is being treated. Other side effects will depend on the part of the body being treated.
Remember, you’ll probably only have a few of these side effects and for many people, they’re quite mild. Most side effects disappear gradually once the course of treatment is over, but this might take a few weeks.
- tiredness
You might feel very tired during radiotherapy, especially if you have to travel to the hospital every day for your treatment. Listen to your body and maybe take a nap in the afternoon or just have some extra rest when you can. Tiredness can carry on for some months after treatment has finished. - eating and drinking
You might not feel like eating much or you might prefer to have smaller snacks throughout the day rather than proper meals. It’s not unusual to lose a little weight during radiotherapy but if you are having problems, let the staff know and they can arrange for you to see a dietitian. Having radiotherapy to your chest area can make your chest feel tight which makes it a bit difficult to swallow food. This is a common reaction to treatment. The dietitian can help you plan a softer diet (while you’re on treatment). - skin care
Some people develop what’s called a ‘skin reaction’, which is a bit like sunburn, when they have external radiotherapy. This usually happens after 3-4 weeks. People with pale skin might find that the skin in the treatment area becomes red and sore or itchy. People with darker skin sometimes notice their skin becomes darker or has a blue or black tinge. How much reaction you have depends on your type of skin and the area being treated. You might find you have hardly any skin problems. Radiographers will help to keep an eye on things. Staff in the radiotherapy department will be able to give you advice on how to look after the skin in the area being treated. You might be asked to just use tepid water and to pat the skin dry with a soft towel. Don’t rub the area as this can make it sore. Soaps, talcs, deodorants and perfumes may also make your skin sore and shouldn’t be used. Staff at the hospital might suggest that you use cream such as E45 to help moisturise your skin. - skin care afterwards
Skin reactions usually settle down 2 to 4 weeks after the treatment has finished. For about the first year after radiotherapy it’s best not to expose the treated area to strong sunshine. This doesn’t mean you can’t go out; just make sure to cover the affected skin. Wear cotton, close-weave fabrics and use a sun protection cream of at least factor 15. You can swim as soon as any skin reaction has settled down, usually within a month of finishing treatment - hair loss
With radiotherapy, you lose hair only within the treatment area, for example, if you’re having radiotherapy to your head. But it can happen where the radiation beam leaves the body (for example on the back of the neck), as well as where it enters the body. Your doctor can show you exactly where your hair will fall out. The hair usually starts to fall out after 2 or 3 weeks. Most hair loss is temporary and your hair starts to grow back within 2-3 months of treatment ending. It might grow back with a slightly different colour or texture. Losing your hair can be really distressing; it’s like a constant reminder of your illness. It’s really tough but there are ways of coping. Our deal with it section has more info on this - feeling sick
Some people find that their treatment makes them feel sick, and sometimes they may actually be sick. This mainly happens when the treatment area is near the stomach. Your doctors can prescribe anti-sickness drugs. Any feeling of sickness usually stops once treatment is over. - diarrhoea
This, plus stomach cramps and wind, can happen when you have radiotherapy to the stomach and pelvis. Anti-diarrhoea medicines can really help and your doctor will make sure you have a supply.
how will it affect my day-to-day life?
The main thing you’ll notice (in terms of what you can and can’t do) is tiredness. You won’t have your usual levels of energy and, as treatment goes on, you’ll probably find it harder to carry on with your normal activities. You’ll need to plan to have plenty of rest and maybe even a sleep in the daytime. Get others to help out with stuff like shopping and cooking. Let your school or college know that you’re having radiotherapy and they can arrange for you to take some time out from your studies.
You might not feel much like socialising while you’re having radiotherapy but if you do feel up to it there’s no reason why you can’t go out. It’s a good idea to tell your friends that you might have to cancel plans at short notice, as you might not know how you’re going to feel until the last minute. If you feel like you’re missing out and losing touch with your mates, get them to text or email so that you can keep up with what’s happening in their lives.
how about long-term side effects?
Sometimes radiotherapy can cause long-term side effects (you might hear doctors use the term ‘late effects’). Late effects are side effects from treatment that occur some time after treatment has finished (months or years later). Modern methods of giving radiotherapy mean that complications are becoming less common.
The effects people experience depend on the part of the body that was treated with radiotherapy and the dose given. For example, radiotherapy to the lungs can cause fibrosis (scarring and stiffness of the lung tissue); radiotherapy to the pelvic area (where the ovaries are in women and the testicles are in men) can cause fertility problems; radiotherapy to the head and neck area can stop your salivary glands working. Radiation can also lead to a slightly increased risk of developing a second cancer in later life. For example, radiotherapy to the chest can lead to a slightly increased risk of breast cancer much later in life. Your doctors can tell you more about the possible late effects you might experience.
It all sounds pretty scary, but remember, the methods of giving radiotherapy are more sophisticated now than they were a long time ago and the risks are likely to be less than they were. Plus, the benefits of radiotherapy tend to outweigh any possible future problems.
