Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust: Radiotherapy for prostate cancer

What is radiotherapy for prostate cancer?

Radiotherapy is a treatment for prostate cancer.

It uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells.

This treatment helps to stop cancer from growing.

Here are some helpful tips:

• Use pictures or videos to understand better.
• Ask a doctor or nurse if you have questions.
• Use apps or devices that read text out loud.

How does radiotherapy work?

Radiotherapy is a treatment for cancer. It uses strong rays to kill cancer cells. These rays are like strong X-rays. They go into the body and stop cancer from growing.

Here is how it works:

• The doctor will plan your treatment.
• You will go to a special hospital room.
• You will lie still on a table.
• A machine will give you the strong rays.
• You will not feel anything during the treatment.

Here are some tips to help:

• Ask your doctor to explain each step.
• Take a deep breath to feel calm.
• Bring a friend or family member for support.
• Ask for pictures or videos about radiotherapy.

What kinds of radiotherapy can treat prostate cancer?

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

Here are some types that help prostate cancer:

• External Beam Radiotherapy (EBRT): A big machine points rays at the cancer from outside the body.
• Brachytherapy: Tiny seeds with radiation are put inside the body near the cancer.
• Proton Therapy: Uses proton rays instead of regular rays. It is gentle on healthy body parts.

If you have prostate cancer, doctors can talk to you about the best kind of radiotherapy.

Helpful tips:

• Ask questions if you do not understand.
• Use pictures or videos to learn more.
• Bring a friend or family member to your doctor appointments.

How long does radiotherapy take?

Radiotherapy is a treatment that uses strong rays to help make people better when they are sick. Usually, you need to go to the hospital for this treatment. Most people go for a few weeks.

It can be different for everyone. Sometimes it only takes a few days, and other times it can take up to 7 weeks. The doctor will tell you how long you need it.

It can help to use a calendar or planner to keep track of your appointments. You can also ask someone you trust to remind you when it's time to go.

What can happen to your body after having radiotherapy for prostate cancer?

Sometimes, when you have radiotherapy to treat prostate cancer, your body might feel different. These changes are called side effects. Let's learn about them together and how to feel better!

Here are some common things that might happen:

• Feeling tired: You might feel more sleepy and need extra rest.
• Skin changes: The area where you had treatment might look red or sore. Be gentle with your skin.
• Going to the bathroom: You might need to pee more often, or it might sting. Drink lots of water to help.
• Feeling sick: Sometimes, your tummy might hurt or you might feel like you want to vomit.

If you feel any of these things, tell a grown-up or your doctor. They can help you feel better.

Here is how you can help yourself:

• Rest when you feel tired.
• Always be kind to your skin; don’t scratch it.
• Drink plenty of water every day.
• Eat small meals if your tummy feels upset.

Tools like picture books or talking to someone can help you understand more. You can also ask someone to explain things to you in a way that is easy to understand.

Does radiotherapy hurt?

Can I keep working while having radiotherapy?

Yes, many people keep their jobs during radiotherapy. Here are some tips to help you:

• Talk to your doctor and your boss about your treatment schedule.
• Take breaks and rest when you feel tired.
• Check if you can work part-time if you need more rest.

Ask for help if you need it from family or friends. It's okay to take it easy.

Can radiotherapy cure my prostate cancer?

Radiotherapy is a treatment that uses strong rays to kill cancer cells. It can help with prostate cancer. But it is important to talk to your doctor to see if it is the right choice for you.

Here are some tips to help you understand:

• Talk to your doctor: They can explain what radiotherapy does and if it can help you.
• Ask questions: Write down any questions you have and ask your doctor to explain them.
• Get support: Ask a friend or family member to go with you to your doctor visits.

Does radiotherapy have long-term effects?

Radiotherapy uses strong X-rays to treat cancer.

Some people might have side effects that happen later:

• Skin might change color.
• Feel tired more often.
• Hair may not grow back in the treatment area.

Support tools:

• Ask a doctor if you have questions.
• Use apps that help people with reading.
• Talk to a support group or a friend.

How do doctors plan my radiotherapy treatment?

Doctors plan how to give you radiotherapy. They use special machines and pictures of your body. This helps them know where to aim the radiotherapy.

Here is how they do it:

• They take pictures of inside your body. This shows them where the cancer is.
• They use these pictures to plan your treatment. This helps them target the cancer and not hurt healthy parts.
• They make a schedule for your treatment days. This tells you when to go to the hospital.

If you want extra help, ask someone you trust to come with you. They can help you understand what the doctors say.

Can you use radiotherapy with other treatments?

Yes, you can use radiotherapy with other treatments. Doctors might use it with surgery or medicine to help fight illness.

For extra help, you can use pictures or videos to understand better. You can also ask someone to explain it to you.

Should I eat special foods while having radiotherapy?

What will happen to me with radiotherapy?

Will I lose my hair during radiotherapy for prostate cancer?

Some people worry about losing hair during cancer treatment.

If you have radiotherapy for prostate cancer, it may not make your head hair fall out.

But you might lose some body hair where the treatment happens. This is normal.

If you are worried or have questions, talk to your doctor. They can give you advice and help.

Using a soft brush or a gentle shampoo can help care for your hair.

You can also ask someone you trust to help if you need it.

Who can I talk to if I have more questions about my treatment?

If you have questions about your treatment, you can talk to your doctor or nurse. They are there to help you. You can also ask a friend or family member to help you understand.

It might help to write down your questions. You can also use pictures to explain what you want to know. If it's hard to listen, you can ask for information in writing.

What is radiotherapy for prostate cancer?

Radiotherapy is a treatment for prostate cancer.

It uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells.

This treatment helps to stop cancer from growing.

Here are some helpful tips:

• Use pictures or videos to understand better.
• Ask a doctor or nurse if you have questions.
• Use apps or devices that read text out loud.

How does radiotherapy work?

Radiotherapy is a treatment for cancer. It uses strong rays to kill cancer cells. These rays are like strong X-rays. They go into the body and stop cancer from growing.

Here is how it works:

• The doctor will plan your treatment.
• You will go to a special hospital room.
• You will lie still on a table.
• A machine will give you the strong rays.
• You will not feel anything during the treatment.

Here are some tips to help:

• Ask your doctor to explain each step.
• Take a deep breath to feel calm.
• Bring a friend or family member for support.
• Ask for pictures or videos about radiotherapy.

What kinds of radiotherapy can treat prostate cancer?

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

Here are some types that help prostate cancer:

• External Beam Radiotherapy (EBRT): A big machine points rays at the cancer from outside the body.
• Brachytherapy: Tiny seeds with radiation are put inside the body near the cancer.
• Proton Therapy: Uses proton rays instead of regular rays. It is gentle on healthy body parts.

If you have prostate cancer, doctors can talk to you about the best kind of radiotherapy.

Helpful tips:

• Ask questions if you do not understand.
• Use pictures or videos to learn more.
• Bring a friend or family member to your doctor appointments.

How long does radiotherapy take?

Radiotherapy is a treatment that uses strong rays to help make people better when they are sick. Usually, you need to go to the hospital for this treatment. Most people go for a few weeks.

It can be different for everyone. Sometimes it only takes a few days, and other times it can take up to 7 weeks. The doctor will tell you how long you need it.

It can help to use a calendar or planner to keep track of your appointments. You can also ask someone you trust to remind you when it's time to go.

What can happen to your body after having radiotherapy for prostate cancer?

Sometimes, when you have radiotherapy to treat prostate cancer, your body might feel different. These changes are called side effects. Let's learn about them together and how to feel better!

Here are some common things that might happen:

• Feeling tired: You might feel more sleepy and need extra rest.
• Skin changes: The area where you had treatment might look red or sore. Be gentle with your skin.
• Going to the bathroom: You might need to pee more often, or it might sting. Drink lots of water to help.
• Feeling sick: Sometimes, your tummy might hurt or you might feel like you want to vomit.

If you feel any of these things, tell a grown-up or your doctor. They can help you feel better.

Here is how you can help yourself:

• Rest when you feel tired.
• Always be kind to your skin; don’t scratch it.
• Drink plenty of water every day.
• Eat small meals if your tummy feels upset.

Tools like picture books or talking to someone can help you understand more. You can also ask someone to explain things to you in a way that is easy to understand.

Does radiotherapy hurt?

Can I keep working while having radiotherapy?

Yes, many people keep their jobs during radiotherapy. Here are some tips to help you:

• Talk to your doctor and your boss about your treatment schedule.
• Take breaks and rest when you feel tired.
• Check if you can work part-time if you need more rest.

Ask for help if you need it from family or friends. It's okay to take it easy.

Can radiotherapy cure my prostate cancer?

Radiotherapy is a treatment that uses strong rays to kill cancer cells. It can help with prostate cancer. But it is important to talk to your doctor to see if it is the right choice for you.

Here are some tips to help you understand:

• Talk to your doctor: They can explain what radiotherapy does and if it can help you.
• Ask questions: Write down any questions you have and ask your doctor to explain them.
• Get support: Ask a friend or family member to go with you to your doctor visits.

Does radiotherapy have long-term effects?

Radiotherapy uses strong X-rays to treat cancer.

Some people might have side effects that happen later:

• Skin might change color.
• Feel tired more often.
• Hair may not grow back in the treatment area.

Support tools:

• Ask a doctor if you have questions.
• Use apps that help people with reading.
• Talk to a support group or a friend.

How do doctors plan my radiotherapy treatment?

Doctors plan how to give you radiotherapy. They use special machines and pictures of your body. This helps them know where to aim the radiotherapy.

Here is how they do it:

• They take pictures of inside your body. This shows them where the cancer is.
• They use these pictures to plan your treatment. This helps them target the cancer and not hurt healthy parts.
• They make a schedule for your treatment days. This tells you when to go to the hospital.

If you want extra help, ask someone you trust to come with you. They can help you understand what the doctors say.

Can you use radiotherapy with other treatments?

Yes, you can use radiotherapy with other treatments. Doctors might use it with surgery or medicine to help fight illness.

For extra help, you can use pictures or videos to understand better. You can also ask someone to explain it to you.

Should I eat special foods while having radiotherapy?

What will happen to me with radiotherapy?

Will I lose my hair during radiotherapy for prostate cancer?

Some people worry about losing hair during cancer treatment.

If you have radiotherapy for prostate cancer, it may not make your head hair fall out.

But you might lose some body hair where the treatment happens. This is normal.

If you are worried or have questions, talk to your doctor. They can give you advice and help.

Using a soft brush or a gentle shampoo can help care for your hair.

You can also ask someone you trust to help if you need it.

Who can I talk to if I have more questions about my treatment?

If you have questions about your treatment, you can talk to your doctor or nurse. They are there to help you. You can also ask a friend or family member to help you understand.

It might help to write down your questions. You can also use pictures to explain what you want to know. If it's hard to listen, you can ask for information in writing.