Radiotherapy for metastatic bowel cancer
Side effects will vary depending on which part of the body is being treated with radiotherapy and how many treatments you have. You might have radiotherapy to your back passage (rectum) or to areas of your body where the cancer has spread.
Side effects tend to start a week after the radiotherapy begins. They gradually get worse during the treatment and for a couple of weeks after the treatment ends. But they usually begin to improve after around 2 weeks or so.
Radiotherapy for aims to make you feel better. So your cancer specialist will try to choose treatments that have as few side effects as possible.
The side effects vary from person to person. You might not have all of the effects mentioned.
We have some information about the possible side effects of radiotherapy below.
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, such as exercise. Some research has shown that taking gentle exercise can give you more energy. It's important to balance exercise with resting.
Get tips on coping with tiredness
You might feel sick at times. You can have anti sickness medicines. Let your treatment team know if you still feel sick, as they can give you another type.
Find out about ways of controlling sickness
Tell your doctor or nurse if you have diarrhoea. They can prescribe medicine to help you.
Drink at least 2.5 litres of fluid a day. This helps to keep you hydrated.
Ask your nurse about soothing creams to apply around your back passage (rectum). The skin in that area can get very sore and even break if you have severe diarrhoea.
You may feel:
as if you want to pass urine all the time (but when you go, there isn't much there)
as if you have a bladder infection (cystitis)
a burning pain when you do pass urine
Try to drink plenty of water. Many people think that drinking cranberry juice can be helpful with bladder problems. But cranberry juice can increase the effects of warfarin (a blood thinner or anticoagulant). You should not drink cranberry juice if you are taking warfarin.
Your bladder inflammation should settle down after the treatment is over.
The skin around your anus and back passage (rectum) is very sensitive. Radiotherapy can make it red and sore.
Wash your skin with tepid water and simple soaps.
Pat your skin dry with a soft towel.
Ask your doctor, nurse or radiographer for creams to protect your skin and help it heal quickly.
Don't use perfumed or medicated soaps and lotions.
Try using a soft cushion if you have difficulty sitting comfortably for a while.
After your treatment is over, the soreness should gradually get better over a few weeks.
You might have radiotherapy to different parts of your body. For example, you might have one dose (fraction) of radiotherapy to a bone to help with pain.
Find out more about radiotherapy to control symptoms in different parts of the body
Last reviewed: 19 Dec 2024
Next review due: 19 Dec 2027
Metastatic bowel cancer is cancer that has spread from the back passage (rectum) and large intestines (colon) to other parts of the body, such as the liver. It is also called advanced cancer. Treatment can include chemotherapy, surgery, targeted cancer drugs and radiotherapy.
Radiotherapy for metastatic bowel cancer can shrink the cancer, relieve symptoms, and help you feel more comfortable. You have external beam radiotherapy for cancer that has spread. External beam directs radiotherapy beams at the cancer from a machine.
The aim of treatment for metastatic bowel cancer is usually to reduce symptoms, make you feel better and sometimes help you live longer.
Deciding about treatment can be difficult when you have cancer that has spread. Treatments such as chemotherapy, targeted and immunotherapy drugs and radiotherapy can help to reduce symptoms.
If you have metastatic bowel cancer there is information and support available to you, your family and friends.
Bowel cancer means cancer that starts in the colon (large bowel) or back passage (rectum). It is also known as colorectal cancer.
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