Having radiotherapy for non melanoma skin cancer

Types of radiotherapy for non melanoma skin cancer

Radiotherapy uses high energy x-rays to kill cancer cells. There are 2 main types of radiotherapy: External radiotherapy and internal radiotherapy (brachytherapy).

External beam radiotherapy

External beam radiotherapy directs radiotherapy beams at the cancer from a machine. You usually have external radiotherapy for non melanoma skin cancer.

Superficial radiotherapy is a type of external radiotherapy. It treats cancer on or close to the skin surface. Superficial radiotherapy means that the radiation doesn't travel far into your body.

You can have superficial radiotherapy with low energy x-rays (photons) or electrons. Your doctor will decide which one you need. This depends on the size and depth of the cancer and where it is in the body.

Read about superficial radiotherapy to the skin

Internal radiotherapy (brachytherapy)

Internal radiotherapy means giving radiotherapy to the cancer from inside the body. It is also called brachytherapy.

In some cases, your doctor might use brachytherapy instead of external beam radiotherapy. But this is less common.

Find out more about brachytherapy

When do you have radiotherapy?

Radiotherapy is a treatment for basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and some rarer types of non melanoma skin cancer. It might be a treatment for you skin cancer if:

• surgery is not possible because you’re not fit enough or you don’t want an operation

• your cancer is in a body part which is difficult to operate on

• surgery might affect how that body part looks or works

• it covers a large area

• in elderly or frail people

You might have radiotherapy after surgery to try to lower the risk of the cancer coming back. This is called adjuvant treatment.

Or you might have radiotherapy if your cancer has spread to your lymph nodes or another part of your body, such as the lungs.

Planning radiotherapy

Before you have radiotherapy treatment it needs planning. This is to work out the amount (dose) of radiotherapy you need and exactly where you need it.

Find out about planning radiotherapy

Where and how often you have radiotherapy

You have radiotherapy treatment in the hospital radiotherapy department. The number of treatments you have depends on the type of skin cancer you have, where it is and how big it is.

You usually have radiotherapy once a day, from Monday to Friday. You have a rest at the weekend. The length of treatment varies from one to about 6 weeks. 

If you are older or frail, you might have radiotherapy less often. This means you don't need to attend the radiotherapy department daily. For example, you might have radiotherapy once a week, or 2 to 3 times a week.

Some people might have a single treatment of radiotherapy.  

Your doctor will tell you what treatment plan is best for you.

Having radiotherapy

Most people with skin cancer have superficial radiotherapy. We have separate information about how you have superficial radiotherapy.

Find out more about having superficial radiotherapy

Below we have information about having other types of external radiotherapy.

The radiotherapy room

Before you start your course of treatment your radiographers explain what you will see and hear. In some departments the treatment rooms have docks for you to plug in your music player. So you can listen to your own music.

During radiotherapy treatment

You can't feel radiotherapy when you actually have the treatment. But the machine makes whirring and beeping sounds.

Because your position is so important, the radiographers may take a little while to get you ready. They have to place shields or moulds in the correct position. They might also take images (x-rays or scans). You can help by trying to relax as much as possible during this time.

Once you are in the right position your radiographers leave you alone in the room. This is so they are not exposed to the radiation. You will be alone for anything from a few minutes up to 15 minutes.  

Your radiographers can see and hear you on the close circuit television (CCTV) screen in the next room at all times. You can also talk to them through the intercom or raise your hand if you need to stop or if you're uncomfortable.

You won't be radioactive

Side effects of radiotherapy treatment

All treatments have side effects and these vary from person to person. You may have one or a combination of several. This is a list of some of the side effects you might get from radiotherapy treatment for skin cancers:

Looking after your skin during treatment

Your radiotherapy team will tell you how to care for your skin during and after treatment.

Tips for looking after your skin:

• Gently wash your skin with warm water.

• Don’t use perfume, perfumed soaps or lotions on the area as it can irritate the skin.

• Pat your skin dry using a soft towel, do not rub.

• Don’t shave the area being treated – speak to your radiotherapy team if you really need to remove the hair, it may be better to use a hair trimmer instead.

• Don’t use any creams or dressings on the treatment area unless advised by your doctor or radiographer.

Find out more about radiotherapy