Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust: Radiotherapy for head and neck cancers

What is radiotherapy for head and neck cancers?

Radiotherapy is a way to treat cancer. It uses strong rays to kill cancer cells. This can help treat cancers in the head and neck area.

If you find it hard to read, you can use these tools to help:

• Text-to-speech: This tool reads the text out loud to you.
• Picture stories: These show pictures with the words to help you understand better.
• Audio guides: Listen to someone explain the information.

How do doctors use radiotherapy to treat head and neck cancers?

Doctors use special rays called radiotherapy to treat cancers in the head and neck.

Here is how they do it:

• Doctors aim the rays at the cancer to help stop it from growing.
• Patients might get the treatment at a hospital or clinic.
• Treatment can take several visits, but it usually does not hurt.

If you want help understanding this treatment, you can:

• Ask a nurse or doctor questions.
• Bring a family member or friend to support you.
• Use picture charts or videos to learn more.

Do I have to stay in the hospital for radiotherapy?

No, most people do not have to stay in the hospital for radiotherapy. You will usually go to the hospital for treatment and then go home on the same day.

If you find it hard to remember your appointments, you can use a calendar or an alarm to help remind you.

How long is a radiotherapy session?

A radiotherapy session usually takes about 10 to 30 minutes.

If you need help with reading, you can ask someone to read with you. You can also use a reading app that reads the words out loud.

What can happen to your body after radiotherapy for head and neck cancer?

Radiotherapy is a strong treatment for cancer in the head and neck. Sometimes, it can make your body feel different. This is called a side effect. It is important to know what might happen so you can feel better.

Some things you might feel are:

• Sore mouth or throat
• Tiredness
• Dry mouth
• Changes in taste
• Skin changes

It's a good idea to tell your doctor or nurse if you have side effects. They can help you.

You might find these ideas useful:

• Drink water often to help with a dry mouth.
• Rest often to help with tiredness.
• Try different foods if they taste funny.
• Use a special mouthwash to help a sore mouth.

Using these ideas might make you feel better. Always ask for help if you need it.

Can I eat and drink like usual during radiotherapy?

Yes, you can usually eat and drink normally during your treatment. Radiotherapy is a strong treatment for cancer. It is important to keep your body strong.

Here are some tips:

• Try to eat healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, and proteins. They help your body stay strong.
• Drink plenty of water. It is good to stay hydrated.
• If you have trouble eating, tell your doctor. They can help you.

Sometimes, people feel sick or have a sore mouth during radiotherapy. If this happens, let your doctor know. They might give you special drinks or medicines to help you feel better.

Will I lose my hair if I have radiotherapy?

Radiotherapy is a treatment that uses strong beams to kill bad cells in the body. Sometimes, it can make hair fall out.

If the radiotherapy beams are near your head, you might lose hair on your head. If the beams are on another part of your body, you might lose hair there.

Not everyone who has radiotherapy loses hair. It depends on where the beams are used and how strong they are.

If you are worried about losing hair, talk to your doctor or nurse. They can help you understand what might happen.

Using a soft brush and gentle shampoo can help take care of your hair. Some people find hats, scarves, or wigs helpful if they lose hair.

Can I work while having radiotherapy?

Yes, you might be able to work while having radiotherapy. Everyone is different. Some people feel okay and can still go to work. Others might feel too tired or unwell.

Here are some things that can help you:

• Talk to your doctor. They can tell you what to expect.
• Tell your boss and workmates. They can help you if you need time off.
• Listen to your body. Rest when you feel tired.
• Try doing some relaxing things. This can help you feel better.

Will I have radio waves in me after my treatment?

No, you will not be radioactive after your treatment. This means you will not give off any harmful radio waves. You are safe to be around others. If you have questions, ask your doctor.

What to Do if You Feel Sick During Radiotherapy

If you feel sick while having radiotherapy, tell a doctor or nurse. They are there to help you feel better.

Here are some tips:

• Rest as much as you can.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Eat small meals to keep your strength up.
• Tell someone how you feel. Talking can help.

Ask about things that can make you feel better, like soft music or deep breathing. These can help you relax.

How can I look after my skin during radiotherapy?

Here are some simple tips to care for your skin:

• Keep it clean: Wash your skin gently with warm water. Use a soft cloth.
• Be gentle: Don't scrub hard or use strong soaps.
• Moisturize: Use a gentle cream to keep your skin soft. Ask your nurse which one is best.
• Protect from the sun: Wear loose clothes and a hat. Use sunscreen if you go outside.
• Watch for changes: Tell your doctor if your skin gets sore or changes.

If you find it hard to care for your skin, ask a friend or family member to help you.

Will I need other treatments with radiotherapy?

When you have radiotherapy, you might need other treatments too. It depends on what your doctor says is best for you.

Here are some things that can help:

• Ask your doctor lots of questions if you are unsure.
• Bring someone with you to your doctor visits for support.
• Write things down to help you remember.

Can I drive while having radiotherapy treatment?

Talk to your doctor about driving when you have radiotherapy.

Radiotherapy can make you feel very tired. If you feel too tired, ask someone you trust to help you with driving.

Here are some things that can help:

• Rest when you can.
• Ask family or friends to drive you.
• Use a taxi or public transport if you feel tired.

What care do I need after my radiotherapy?

After your radiotherapy, you will need to see your doctor for check-ups. These are to make sure you are healing well.

Here are some things that can help you:

• Calendar: Use a calendar or diary to remember your appointments.
• Talk to your doctor: Ask questions if you don't understand something.
• Support: Bring someone with you to appointments if it helps.

How can I feel less tired during radiotherapy?

Here are some simple ideas:

• Rest It helps to take breaks when you need them. Lie down or nap if you are tired.
• Eat healthy Try to eat good food like fruits and vegetables. They help keep your energy up.
• Drink water Make sure you drink enough water to stay hydrated.
• Light exercise A short walk or gentle stretching can help you feel better.
• Talk to someone Share your feelings with a friend or family member. It can help you feel supported.

Remember to ask your doctor for more advice if you need it.

What is radiotherapy for head and neck cancers?

Radiotherapy is a way to treat cancer. It uses strong rays to kill cancer cells. This can help treat cancers in the head and neck area.

If you find it hard to read, you can use these tools to help:

• Text-to-speech: This tool reads the text out loud to you.
• Picture stories: These show pictures with the words to help you understand better.
• Audio guides: Listen to someone explain the information.

How do doctors use radiotherapy to treat head and neck cancers?

Doctors use special rays called radiotherapy to treat cancers in the head and neck.

Here is how they do it:

• Doctors aim the rays at the cancer to help stop it from growing.
• Patients might get the treatment at a hospital or clinic.
• Treatment can take several visits, but it usually does not hurt.

If you want help understanding this treatment, you can:

• Ask a nurse or doctor questions.
• Bring a family member or friend to support you.
• Use picture charts or videos to learn more.

Do I have to stay in the hospital for radiotherapy?

No, most people do not have to stay in the hospital for radiotherapy. You will usually go to the hospital for treatment and then go home on the same day.

If you find it hard to remember your appointments, you can use a calendar or an alarm to help remind you.

How long is a radiotherapy session?

A radiotherapy session usually takes about 10 to 30 minutes.

If you need help with reading, you can ask someone to read with you. You can also use a reading app that reads the words out loud.

What can happen to your body after radiotherapy for head and neck cancer?

Radiotherapy is a strong treatment for cancer in the head and neck. Sometimes, it can make your body feel different. This is called a side effect. It is important to know what might happen so you can feel better.

Some things you might feel are:

• Sore mouth or throat
• Tiredness
• Dry mouth
• Changes in taste
• Skin changes

It's a good idea to tell your doctor or nurse if you have side effects. They can help you.

You might find these ideas useful:

• Drink water often to help with a dry mouth.
• Rest often to help with tiredness.
• Try different foods if they taste funny.
• Use a special mouthwash to help a sore mouth.

Using these ideas might make you feel better. Always ask for help if you need it.

Can I eat and drink like usual during radiotherapy?

Yes, you can usually eat and drink normally during your treatment. Radiotherapy is a strong treatment for cancer. It is important to keep your body strong.

Here are some tips:

• Try to eat healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, and proteins. They help your body stay strong.
• Drink plenty of water. It is good to stay hydrated.
• If you have trouble eating, tell your doctor. They can help you.

Sometimes, people feel sick or have a sore mouth during radiotherapy. If this happens, let your doctor know. They might give you special drinks or medicines to help you feel better.

Will I lose my hair if I have radiotherapy?

Radiotherapy is a treatment that uses strong beams to kill bad cells in the body. Sometimes, it can make hair fall out.

If the radiotherapy beams are near your head, you might lose hair on your head. If the beams are on another part of your body, you might lose hair there.

Not everyone who has radiotherapy loses hair. It depends on where the beams are used and how strong they are.

If you are worried about losing hair, talk to your doctor or nurse. They can help you understand what might happen.

Using a soft brush and gentle shampoo can help take care of your hair. Some people find hats, scarves, or wigs helpful if they lose hair.

Can I work while having radiotherapy?

Yes, you might be able to work while having radiotherapy. Everyone is different. Some people feel okay and can still go to work. Others might feel too tired or unwell.

Here are some things that can help you:

• Talk to your doctor. They can tell you what to expect.
• Tell your boss and workmates. They can help you if you need time off.
• Listen to your body. Rest when you feel tired.
• Try doing some relaxing things. This can help you feel better.

Will I have radio waves in me after my treatment?

No, you will not be radioactive after your treatment. This means you will not give off any harmful radio waves. You are safe to be around others. If you have questions, ask your doctor.

What to Do if You Feel Sick During Radiotherapy

If you feel sick while having radiotherapy, tell a doctor or nurse. They are there to help you feel better.

Here are some tips:

• Rest as much as you can.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Eat small meals to keep your strength up.
• Tell someone how you feel. Talking can help.

Ask about things that can make you feel better, like soft music or deep breathing. These can help you relax.

How can I look after my skin during radiotherapy?

Here are some simple tips to care for your skin:

• Keep it clean: Wash your skin gently with warm water. Use a soft cloth.
• Be gentle: Don't scrub hard or use strong soaps.
• Moisturize: Use a gentle cream to keep your skin soft. Ask your nurse which one is best.
• Protect from the sun: Wear loose clothes and a hat. Use sunscreen if you go outside.
• Watch for changes: Tell your doctor if your skin gets sore or changes.

If you find it hard to care for your skin, ask a friend or family member to help you.

Will I need other treatments with radiotherapy?

When you have radiotherapy, you might need other treatments too. It depends on what your doctor says is best for you.

Here are some things that can help:

• Ask your doctor lots of questions if you are unsure.
• Bring someone with you to your doctor visits for support.
• Write things down to help you remember.

Can I drive while having radiotherapy treatment?

Talk to your doctor about driving when you have radiotherapy.

Radiotherapy can make you feel very tired. If you feel too tired, ask someone you trust to help you with driving.

Here are some things that can help:

• Rest when you can.
• Ask family or friends to drive you.
• Use a taxi or public transport if you feel tired.

What care do I need after my radiotherapy?

After your radiotherapy, you will need to see your doctor for check-ups. These are to make sure you are healing well.

Here are some things that can help you:

• Calendar: Use a calendar or diary to remember your appointments.
• Talk to your doctor: Ask questions if you don't understand something.
• Support: Bring someone with you to appointments if it helps.

How can I feel less tired during radiotherapy?

Here are some simple ideas:

• Rest It helps to take breaks when you need them. Lie down or nap if you are tired.
• Eat healthy Try to eat good food like fruits and vegetables. They help keep your energy up.
• Drink water Make sure you drink enough water to stay hydrated.
• Light exercise A short walk or gentle stretching can help you feel better.
• Talk to someone Share your feelings with a friend or family member. It can help you feel supported.

Remember to ask your doctor for more advice if you need it.