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Radiotherapy

Follow up after radiotherapy

When your course of radiotherapy ends your treatment team will give you information and advice about your recovery. They will give you a contact number to call if you have any questions or worries.

Hospital appointments

You will have regular follow up appointments. These may be 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, you might have a phone call. This will be by a member of the treatment team, such as a specialist nurse or your radiographer.

You can 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 help you to cope with them.

Radiotherapy side effects

Last reviewed: 18 Mar 2024

Next review due: 18 Nov 2027

What is external radiotherapy?

External radiotherapy uses radiotherapy machines to aim radiation beams at a cancer. This destroys the cancer cells. There are different types of external radiotherapy.

Internal radiotherapy

Internal radiotherapy means having radiation treatment from inside the body. It is also called brachytherapy. Read more about what it is and how you have it.

Side effects or radiotherapy

Radiotherapy can cause different side effects depending on which part of the body is being treated. Find out what these side effects are and how they affect you during and after treatment.

Long term side effects

Radiotherapy has some long term side effects which may come on several months or years after you have finished your radiotherapy treatment.

Your cancer type

Search for the cancer type you want to find out about. Each section has detailed information about symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, research and coping with cancer.

Radiotherapy main page

Find out about cancer treatment with radiotherapy, including external radiotherapy, internal radiotherapy, side effects, radiotherapy for symptoms and follow up after treatment.

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