Having radiotherapy for breast cancer - 3 Videos

What is radiotherapy for breast cancer?

Radiotherapy is a treatment for breast cancer. It uses strong rays, like X-rays, to kill cancer cells in the breast. Cancer cells are bad cells that can make you sick.

Here are some tips to help understand this better:

• Use picture books or videos about radiotherapy.
• Ask a doctor or nurse to explain it in simple words.
• Talk to someone who had radiotherapy and ask questions.

How do people with breast cancer get radiotherapy?

If you have breast cancer, you might need a treatment called radiotherapy. This is how it works:

What is radiotherapy?

Radiotherapy uses strong rays, like X-rays, to kill cancer cells.

How do you get radiotherapy?

• You will go to a special place called a hospital.
• The doctor will use a machine. This machine shines strong rays on the part of your body where the cancer is.
• You will not see or feel the rays, but they work hard to make you better.

Things to remember:

• Wear comfy clothes.
• Stay still and calm during the treatment.
• If you feel worried, tell your doctor or nurse. They are there to help you.

Ask your doctor or nurse if you have more questions. They can also suggest helpful tools like drawing, stories, or videos to understand better.

Does radiotherapy hurt?

When you have radiotherapy, it usually does not hurt.

If you have questions, ask the doctor or nurse.

They can help you feel better.

What will happen when I have radiotherapy?

Here is what you can expect:

• Before your treatment: The staff will explain what's going to happen. You can ask them any questions.
• During your treatment: You will lie still on a special bed. The machine might move around you, but it won't touch you.
• It doesn't hurt: You won't feel any pain from the machine.
• After your treatment: You might feel tired. Rest if you need to.

If you feel worried, you can bring a friend or family member with you. They can sit outside the room.

You can also practice calm breathing or listen to music to help you feel relaxed.

What happens after getting radiotherapy for breast cancer?

Here is what might happen to your body after the treatment:

• Your skin might feel sore or look like it has a sunburn. This can happen where you had your treatment.
• You might feel very tired and sleepy.
• You could have a cough or find it hard to breathe easily.
• Your arm might feel swollen or heavy.

Remember, everyone is different and might have different feelings.

If you feel worried or uncomfortable, ask your doctor or nurse for help. Using a calendar to track your side effects or talking to friends can also help you feel better.

How can I deal with the side effects of radiotherapy?

Radiotherapy can make you feel unwell. Here are some tips to help you feel better:

• Rest a lot. It is normal to feel tired.
• Eat healthy food. Try fruits and vegetables.
• Drink lots of water. Staying hydrated is important.
• Tell your doctor if you feel sick or have pain. They can help you.
• Use cream if your skin is sore. Ask your nurse for advice.
• Write down how you feel each day. It can help you remember what to tell the doctor.

If reading is hard for you, ask someone to read it with you. Drawing pictures might help too!

Can I keep working while I have radiotherapy?

Yes, many people can keep working while they have radiotherapy. Everyone is different, so some people might feel tired.

Here are some tips to help you:

• Talk to your doctor or nurse. They can give advice.
• Tell your boss about your treatment. They might let you work fewer hours.
• Rest when you get home. Take naps if you feel tired.
• Eat healthy food and drink lots of water.

Will I be glowing after getting radiotherapy treatment?

No, you will not glow or be radioactive after your treatment.

Radiotherapy is a way to treat cancer. It uses strong rays to help kill cancer cells.

After your treatment, you are safe to be around other people. You won't pass anything harmful to them.

If you are worried or have questions, talk to your doctor or nurse. They can help you understand more.

It can also be helpful to use pictures or videos to learn about radiotherapy.

Why do doctors use radiotherapy after breast cancer surgery?

After surgery for breast cancer, doctors sometimes use radiotherapy. This is to help make sure all cancer cells are gone.

Radiotherapy uses strong rays to kill any cancer cells left behind. It helps stop the cancer from coming back.

If you find reading hard, you can ask someone to read with you. Or, use tools that read out loud. This can help you understand better.

Will my hair fall out during radiotherapy?

How can I look after my skin during radiotherapy?

Here are some easy tips to help you take care of your skin when you have radiotherapy:

• Wash your skin gently with mild soap and warm water.
• Pat your skin dry with a soft towel. Do not rub!
• Wear loose, soft clothes so your skin can breathe.
• Avoid putting creams or lotions on your skin unless your doctor says it's okay.
• Keep your skin out of the sun. Wear a hat and cover your skin if you go outside.
• If your skin feels sore, talk to your doctor or nurse. They can help you.

Remember, every person is different. It is important to ask your doctor or nurse if you have questions or if your skin feels uncomfortable.

Using large print or pictures can also help you understand and remember the tips.

Does radiotherapy work for all types of breast cancer?

Radiotherapy is a treatment for breast cancer. It uses strong rays to kill cancer cells.

Not all breast cancers are the same. Radiotherapy may not help with every type of breast cancer. Some people might need different treatments.

If you are unsure, ask your doctor. They can help you understand what's best for you.

Using tools like videos or picture stories can help you learn more about radiotherapy.

Can I drive myself to radiotherapy appointments?

If you have to go to hospital for radiotherapy (a special treatment for illness), you might wonder if you can drive yourself there.

Here are some things to think about:

• Feeling Tired: Radiotherapy can make you feel very tired. If you feel too tired, it might not be safe to drive.
• Ask Your Doctor: It’s a good idea to ask your doctor if it is okay for you to drive.
• Help from Others: If you feel too tired, it's okay to ask a family member or friend to drive you.
• Use Transport Services: Some hospitals have transport services to help people get to their appointments. Ask the hospital about this help.

When will I see changes after my radiotherapy?

What should I talk about with my radiotherapy team before treatment starts?

Here are some things to ask and talk about:

• What will happen during my treatment?
• How might it make me feel?
• How long will the treatment last?
• What can I do if I feel worried or upset?
• Are there ways to feel more comfortable?

If you find talking hard, you can try:

• Bringing a friend or family member to help.
• Writing down questions before you see the team.
• Using pictures to show how you feel.

What is radiotherapy for breast cancer?

Radiotherapy is a treatment for breast cancer. It uses strong rays, like X-rays, to kill cancer cells in the breast. Cancer cells are bad cells that can make you sick.

Here are some tips to help understand this better:

• Use picture books or videos about radiotherapy.
• Ask a doctor or nurse to explain it in simple words.
• Talk to someone who had radiotherapy and ask questions.

How do people with breast cancer get radiotherapy?

If you have breast cancer, you might need a treatment called radiotherapy. This is how it works:

What is radiotherapy?

Radiotherapy uses strong rays, like X-rays, to kill cancer cells.

How do you get radiotherapy?

• You will go to a special place called a hospital.
• The doctor will use a machine. This machine shines strong rays on the part of your body where the cancer is.
• You will not see or feel the rays, but they work hard to make you better.

Things to remember:

• Wear comfy clothes.
• Stay still and calm during the treatment.
• If you feel worried, tell your doctor or nurse. They are there to help you.

Ask your doctor or nurse if you have more questions. They can also suggest helpful tools like drawing, stories, or videos to understand better.

Does radiotherapy hurt?

When you have radiotherapy, it usually does not hurt.

If you have questions, ask the doctor or nurse.

They can help you feel better.

What will happen when I have radiotherapy?

Here is what you can expect:

• Before your treatment: The staff will explain what's going to happen. You can ask them any questions.
• During your treatment: You will lie still on a special bed. The machine might move around you, but it won't touch you.
• It doesn't hurt: You won't feel any pain from the machine.
• After your treatment: You might feel tired. Rest if you need to.

If you feel worried, you can bring a friend or family member with you. They can sit outside the room.

You can also practice calm breathing or listen to music to help you feel relaxed.

What happens after getting radiotherapy for breast cancer?

Here is what might happen to your body after the treatment:

• Your skin might feel sore or look like it has a sunburn. This can happen where you had your treatment.
• You might feel very tired and sleepy.
• You could have a cough or find it hard to breathe easily.
• Your arm might feel swollen or heavy.

Remember, everyone is different and might have different feelings.

If you feel worried or uncomfortable, ask your doctor or nurse for help. Using a calendar to track your side effects or talking to friends can also help you feel better.

How can I deal with the side effects of radiotherapy?

Radiotherapy can make you feel unwell. Here are some tips to help you feel better:

• Rest a lot. It is normal to feel tired.
• Eat healthy food. Try fruits and vegetables.
• Drink lots of water. Staying hydrated is important.
• Tell your doctor if you feel sick or have pain. They can help you.
• Use cream if your skin is sore. Ask your nurse for advice.
• Write down how you feel each day. It can help you remember what to tell the doctor.

If reading is hard for you, ask someone to read it with you. Drawing pictures might help too!

Can I keep working while I have radiotherapy?

Yes, many people can keep working while they have radiotherapy. Everyone is different, so some people might feel tired.

Here are some tips to help you:

• Talk to your doctor or nurse. They can give advice.
• Tell your boss about your treatment. They might let you work fewer hours.
• Rest when you get home. Take naps if you feel tired.
• Eat healthy food and drink lots of water.

Will I be glowing after getting radiotherapy treatment?

No, you will not glow or be radioactive after your treatment.

Radiotherapy is a way to treat cancer. It uses strong rays to help kill cancer cells.

After your treatment, you are safe to be around other people. You won't pass anything harmful to them.

If you are worried or have questions, talk to your doctor or nurse. They can help you understand more.

It can also be helpful to use pictures or videos to learn about radiotherapy.

Why do doctors use radiotherapy after breast cancer surgery?

After surgery for breast cancer, doctors sometimes use radiotherapy. This is to help make sure all cancer cells are gone.

Radiotherapy uses strong rays to kill any cancer cells left behind. It helps stop the cancer from coming back.

If you find reading hard, you can ask someone to read with you. Or, use tools that read out loud. This can help you understand better.

Will my hair fall out during radiotherapy?

How can I look after my skin during radiotherapy?

Here are some easy tips to help you take care of your skin when you have radiotherapy:

• Wash your skin gently with mild soap and warm water.
• Pat your skin dry with a soft towel. Do not rub!
• Wear loose, soft clothes so your skin can breathe.
• Avoid putting creams or lotions on your skin unless your doctor says it's okay.
• Keep your skin out of the sun. Wear a hat and cover your skin if you go outside.
• If your skin feels sore, talk to your doctor or nurse. They can help you.

Remember, every person is different. It is important to ask your doctor or nurse if you have questions or if your skin feels uncomfortable.

Using large print or pictures can also help you understand and remember the tips.

Does radiotherapy work for all types of breast cancer?

Radiotherapy is a treatment for breast cancer. It uses strong rays to kill cancer cells.

Not all breast cancers are the same. Radiotherapy may not help with every type of breast cancer. Some people might need different treatments.

If you are unsure, ask your doctor. They can help you understand what's best for you.

Using tools like videos or picture stories can help you learn more about radiotherapy.

Can I drive myself to radiotherapy appointments?

If you have to go to hospital for radiotherapy (a special treatment for illness), you might wonder if you can drive yourself there.

Here are some things to think about:

• Feeling Tired: Radiotherapy can make you feel very tired. If you feel too tired, it might not be safe to drive.
• Ask Your Doctor: It’s a good idea to ask your doctor if it is okay for you to drive.
• Help from Others: If you feel too tired, it's okay to ask a family member or friend to drive you.
• Use Transport Services: Some hospitals have transport services to help people get to their appointments. Ask the hospital about this help.

When will I see changes after my radiotherapy?

What should I talk about with my radiotherapy team before treatment starts?

Here are some things to ask and talk about:

• What will happen during my treatment?
• How might it make me feel?
• How long will the treatment last?
• What can I do if I feel worried or upset?
• Are there ways to feel more comfortable?

If you find talking hard, you can try:

• Bringing a friend or family member to help.
• Writing down questions before you see the team.
• Using pictures to show how you feel.