Side effects of radiotherapy for bladder cancer

You might feel tired during your treatment. It tends to get worse as the treatment goes on. You might also feel weak and lack energy. Rest when you need to.

Tiredness can carry on for some weeks after the treatment has ended. But it usually improves gradually.

Various things can help you to reduce tiredness and cope with it. Some research has shown that taking gentle exercise can give you more energy. Ask your healthcare team for advice about exercise in your situation. It's important to balance exercise with resting.

Get tips on coping with tiredness

Radiotherapy can inflame the lining of your bowel. This can cause diarrhoea. You may also have:

• griping or cramping pain

• an increase in wind

• feeling you need to go to the toilet urgently

• some mucus or blood in your poo (stool)

It’s important to drink plenty if you have diarrhoea, so you don't become dehydrated. Your doctor might prescribe tablets to help slow down your bowel if you need them. This should help to reduce the number of times you have diarrhoea. Changing your diet might also help lessen the number of times you need to go, such as reducing the amount of fibre if you have been following a diet very high in fibre. Ask your nurse or doctor about this.

Ask your nurse or radiographer for soothing creams to apply around your back passage (anus). The skin in that area can get very sore and might break if you have severe diarrhoea.

Diarrhoea should gradually get better a few weeks after your treatment has finished. Let your doctor or nurse know if it continues.

Read more about diarrhoea after radiotherapy