Radiotherapy to the Head and Neck: A Guide for patients and their carers

What is Radiotherapy and How Does It Help with Head and Neck Cancer?

Radiotherapy is a treatment that uses strong beams of light called radiation to kill cancer cells. It is used to help people who have cancer in the head or neck.

How does it work?

• The radiation goes to the cancer cells and damages them so they stop growing.
• Doctors use special machines to aim the radiation at the cancer.

If you find reading hard, you can:

• Ask someone to read the text out loud for you.
• Use an app or tool that turns text into speech.
• Take your time and read a little bit at a time.

How long does radiotherapy take for head and neck cancer?

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

If you have cancer in your head or neck, you might need radiotherapy.

Usually, this treatment lasts a few weeks.

Doctors often give treatment once a day, five days a week.

Your doctor will tell you how many weeks you need therapy.

If you have questions, ask your doctor or nurse. They can help you understand.

You can also get help from a loved one, a trusted friend, or a support group. They can go with you to appointments or help explain things.

Do I need to stay in the hospital for my radiotherapy?

How can I get ready for my radiotherapy sessions?

Radiotherapy is a treatment to help your body fight cancer. Here are some simple steps to get ready:

• Talk to your doctor: It is important to ask questions. Your doctor will tell you what to expect and how to prepare.
• Eat well: Try to eat healthy foods and drink lots of water. This can help your body stay strong.
• Rest: Make sure to get plenty of sleep. Your body needs rest to heal.
• Bring a friend: You can ask a friend or family member to come with you. They can help you feel better and give support.
• Use relaxation techniques: Try to relax by taking deep breaths or listening to calm music. This can help you feel less worried.
• Write things down: You can write down any questions or worries you have. Bring the list with you to your appointment.

Following these steps can help you feel more prepared and comfortable for your radiotherapy.

What happens to my body with head and neck radiotherapy?

Radiotherapy is a treatment for cancer. It can make your body feel different. This is called a side effect. When you have radiotherapy on your head and neck, you may have some side effects.

Things you might feel:

• Tiredness: You might feel very tired.
• Sore throat: Your throat might hurt.
• Dry mouth: You might feel like your mouth is dry.
• Skin changes: Your skin might look red or sore.
• Taste changes: Food might taste different.

Helpful tips:

• Rest when you need to. It's okay to take naps.
• Drink plenty of water to help with dry mouth.
• Eat soft foods if your throat is sore.
• Use gentle skin cream if your skin feels sore.
• Ask your doctor if you have questions or need help.

Remember, everyone is different. You might not have all these side effects. Your doctor can help you feel better.

Can I drive myself to radiotherapy sessions?

Driving yourself after radiotherapy might not always be a good idea. Some people feel very tired after their treatment. It can make it hard to drive safely.

Here’s what you can do:

• Ask someone to come with you and help drive.
• Use a taxi or a car service if you need to.
• If you feel okay, you might be able to drive. But it is always good to ask your doctor first.

Tell your doctor or nurse how you feel after your sessions.

Will I lose my hair from treatment on my head and neck?

If you have treatment called radiotherapy on your head or neck, you might lose your hair there.

This means hair might fall out where you get the treatment.

Some people might find it helpful to wear a hat or a scarf. You can ask a nurse or a doctor to help you with this.

Does radiotherapy hurt?

What food changes might you need during treatment?

During treatment, you might need to eat different foods. This can help you feel better.

Here are some tips:

• Ask your doctor or nurse about what foods are best for you.
• Eat small meals many times a day instead of a few big meals.
• Try to eat more fruits and vegetables.
• Drink lots of water.
• Use a food diary to keep track of what you eat.

If you need help, ask someone to help you with shopping and cooking.

How will radiotherapy change how I talk and swallow?

Radiotherapy is a treatment that can help you get better if you are sick. It uses special rays to make the bad cells go away.

This treatment might make it hard to talk or swallow for some time. Everyone is different, so it might not be the same for you.

If you find it hard to talk, you can try to speak slowly. You can use a picture board or write things down to help you communicate.

If swallowing is tricky, try eating soft foods or drinking liquids. Take small bites and sips, and eat slowly.

It is always good to talk to a doctor or a nurse if you have questions. They know how to help you feel better.

Can I keep taking my other medicines during radiotherapy?

Can I keep working during my radiotherapy treatment?

You might be able to keep working while you have radiotherapy. It depends on how you feel.

• Talk to your doctor about how you are feeling.
• Listen to your body. Rest when you need to.
• Tell your boss about your treatment. They might let you work less or change your hours.

Here are some things that can help:

• Use a calendar to keep track of appointments.
• Plan short breaks to relax during the day.
• Get help from friends and family if you need it.

Do I need to see the doctor again after my radiotherapy is finished?

Can you use radiotherapy with other treatments for head and neck cancer?

Yes, you can use radiotherapy with other treatments. Sometimes doctors use radiotherapy with surgery or medicine to help fight cancer.

If you want to know more, you can:

• Ask your doctor to explain it to you.
• Watch videos about cancer treatments.
• Use pictures or diagrams to understand better.

What help can you get for feelings and mental health during treatment?

When you are getting medical help, you might feel worried, sad, or scared. It is important to take care of your feelings and mind.

Here are some ways to get support:

• Talk to a counselor or therapist: They can help you understand your feelings and feel better.
• Join a support group: You can meet other people who feel the same way and share your experiences.
• Talk to family and friends: They can listen and give you comfort and love.
• Practice relaxation techniques: Deep breathing or gentle exercise can help you feel calm.

Remember, it is okay to ask for help when you need it.

What is Radiotherapy and How Does It Help with Head and Neck Cancer?

Radiotherapy is a treatment that uses strong beams of light called radiation to kill cancer cells. It is used to help people who have cancer in the head or neck.

How does it work?

• The radiation goes to the cancer cells and damages them so they stop growing.
• Doctors use special machines to aim the radiation at the cancer.

If you find reading hard, you can:

• Ask someone to read the text out loud for you.
• Use an app or tool that turns text into speech.
• Take your time and read a little bit at a time.

How long does radiotherapy take for head and neck cancer?

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

If you have cancer in your head or neck, you might need radiotherapy.

Usually, this treatment lasts a few weeks.

Doctors often give treatment once a day, five days a week.

Your doctor will tell you how many weeks you need therapy.

If you have questions, ask your doctor or nurse. They can help you understand.

You can also get help from a loved one, a trusted friend, or a support group. They can go with you to appointments or help explain things.

Do I need to stay in the hospital for my radiotherapy?

How can I get ready for my radiotherapy sessions?

Radiotherapy is a treatment to help your body fight cancer. Here are some simple steps to get ready:

• Talk to your doctor: It is important to ask questions. Your doctor will tell you what to expect and how to prepare.
• Eat well: Try to eat healthy foods and drink lots of water. This can help your body stay strong.
• Rest: Make sure to get plenty of sleep. Your body needs rest to heal.
• Bring a friend: You can ask a friend or family member to come with you. They can help you feel better and give support.
• Use relaxation techniques: Try to relax by taking deep breaths or listening to calm music. This can help you feel less worried.
• Write things down: You can write down any questions or worries you have. Bring the list with you to your appointment.

Following these steps can help you feel more prepared and comfortable for your radiotherapy.

What happens to my body with head and neck radiotherapy?

Radiotherapy is a treatment for cancer. It can make your body feel different. This is called a side effect. When you have radiotherapy on your head and neck, you may have some side effects.

Things you might feel:

• Tiredness: You might feel very tired.
• Sore throat: Your throat might hurt.
• Dry mouth: You might feel like your mouth is dry.
• Skin changes: Your skin might look red or sore.
• Taste changes: Food might taste different.

Helpful tips:

• Rest when you need to. It's okay to take naps.
• Drink plenty of water to help with dry mouth.
• Eat soft foods if your throat is sore.
• Use gentle skin cream if your skin feels sore.
• Ask your doctor if you have questions or need help.

Remember, everyone is different. You might not have all these side effects. Your doctor can help you feel better.

Can I drive myself to radiotherapy sessions?

Driving yourself after radiotherapy might not always be a good idea. Some people feel very tired after their treatment. It can make it hard to drive safely.

Here’s what you can do:

• Ask someone to come with you and help drive.
• Use a taxi or a car service if you need to.
• If you feel okay, you might be able to drive. But it is always good to ask your doctor first.

Tell your doctor or nurse how you feel after your sessions.

Will I lose my hair from treatment on my head and neck?

If you have treatment called radiotherapy on your head or neck, you might lose your hair there.

This means hair might fall out where you get the treatment.

Some people might find it helpful to wear a hat or a scarf. You can ask a nurse or a doctor to help you with this.

Does radiotherapy hurt?

What food changes might you need during treatment?

During treatment, you might need to eat different foods. This can help you feel better.

Here are some tips:

• Ask your doctor or nurse about what foods are best for you.
• Eat small meals many times a day instead of a few big meals.
• Try to eat more fruits and vegetables.
• Drink lots of water.
• Use a food diary to keep track of what you eat.

If you need help, ask someone to help you with shopping and cooking.

How will radiotherapy change how I talk and swallow?

Radiotherapy is a treatment that can help you get better if you are sick. It uses special rays to make the bad cells go away.

This treatment might make it hard to talk or swallow for some time. Everyone is different, so it might not be the same for you.

If you find it hard to talk, you can try to speak slowly. You can use a picture board or write things down to help you communicate.

If swallowing is tricky, try eating soft foods or drinking liquids. Take small bites and sips, and eat slowly.

It is always good to talk to a doctor or a nurse if you have questions. They know how to help you feel better.

Can I keep taking my other medicines during radiotherapy?

Can I keep working during my radiotherapy treatment?

You might be able to keep working while you have radiotherapy. It depends on how you feel.

• Talk to your doctor about how you are feeling.
• Listen to your body. Rest when you need to.
• Tell your boss about your treatment. They might let you work less or change your hours.

Here are some things that can help:

• Use a calendar to keep track of appointments.
• Plan short breaks to relax during the day.
• Get help from friends and family if you need it.

Do I need to see the doctor again after my radiotherapy is finished?

Can you use radiotherapy with other treatments for head and neck cancer?

Yes, you can use radiotherapy with other treatments. Sometimes doctors use radiotherapy with surgery or medicine to help fight cancer.

If you want to know more, you can:

• Ask your doctor to explain it to you.
• Watch videos about cancer treatments.
• Use pictures or diagrams to understand better.

What help can you get for feelings and mental health during treatment?

When you are getting medical help, you might feel worried, sad, or scared. It is important to take care of your feelings and mind.

Here are some ways to get support:

• Talk to a counselor or therapist: They can help you understand your feelings and feel better.
• Join a support group: You can meet other people who feel the same way and share your experiences.
• Talk to family and friends: They can listen and give you comfort and love.
• Practice relaxation techniques: Deep breathing or gentle exercise can help you feel calm.

Remember, it is okay to ask for help when you need it.