Follow up after radiotherapy

When your radiotherapy treatment ends your treatment team will give you advice and information about your recovery and how to cope with any side effects.

They will also give you a number to call in case you have questions or worries.

Hospital appointments

You might have regular follow up appointments at the radiotherapy department or at your original hospital. There you might see your radiotherapy doctor (clinical oncologist) and specialist nurse.

How often you go varies from one hospital to another. But as you recover from the treatment you won't need to go so often. 

Your radiotherapy team will be in touch with your GP to tell them about your progress. Follow up appointments give you the chance to discuss any problems or worries which may have come up.

It can help to make a list of points to discuss before you go so you don't forget anything important.

Phone appointments

Instead of appointments at the hospital a member of the treatment team, such as a specialist nurse or your radiographer, might contact you by phone.

Contact the radiotherapy department or your cancer specialist if you have any problems or worries in between your appointments or calls. You don't have to wait until your next scheduled appointment.

Let a member of your radiotherapy treatment team know as soon as possible if you think you have any long term side effects from the treatment. Your doctor or specialist nurse can then help you to cope with them.

Contact your doctor or specialist nurse if you have any concerns between appointments. You should also contact them if you notice any new symptoms. You don’t have to wait until your next visit.
  • Radiotherapy Services in England 2012. 
    Department of Health.
    November 2012.

  • Radiotherapy: developing a world class service for England. 
    Report to Ministers from National Radiotherapy Advisory Group, 2007

  • External Beam Therapy (2nd edition) 
    Peter Hoskin
    Oxford University Press, 2012

  • Radiotherapy in Practice - Brachytherapy (2nd edition)
    P Hoskin and C Coyle
    Oxford University Press, 2011

Last reviewed: 
06 Nov 2020
Next review due: 
06 Nov 2023

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