Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy is sometimes recommended after mastectomy. The main aim of radiotherapy is to destroy any breast cancer cells that may be left in the breast tissue on your chest (after mastectomy). Talk to your doctor about whether radiotherapy may benefit you.

Radiotherapy uses X-rays (controlled doses of radiation) to destroy cancer cells. Radiotherapy is a ‘localised’ treatment, which means it treats only the area of your body it is aimed at. Occasionally radiotherapy is also used to treat the lymph nodes in the armpit and/or lower neck.

Usually you will start radiotherapy 3-6 weeks after surgery. Once you start treatment, you will usually have radiotherapy once a day, 5 days a week, for 5-6 weeks. Radiotherapy is given in this way in order to minimise side effects.

Side effects of radiotherapy

Receiving radiotherapy is painless. However, you may find that you have some discomfort or pain afterwards. Some of the most common side effects during or after radiotherapy include:

• the skin on and around the treated area can become red and dry, much like sunburn
• skin starting to look darker than usual
• feeling more tired than usual.

These side effects will improve with time. Discuss how to best manage these side effects with your radiotherapy team.

Radiotherapy can cause your skin to become more sensitive during treatment. The following tips will help you look after your skin during your course of radiotherapy:

• where possible keep your skin dry and clean
• after washing gently pat the skin dry
• do not use aftershave or lotions without first checking with your doctor, nurse or radiation therapist
• do not use deodorants, or sunscreen in or around the area that is treated
• wear loose-fitting cotton clothing over the treatment area.

“Radiotherapy wasn’t too much of a problem. We were all down there at the clinic, all got cancer, all going in for treatment and a few of us there started to make everyone laugh. It was good.”

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