This leaflet answers common questions about completing your radiotherapy treatment. If you would like further information, or have any particular worries, please do not hesitate to ask your radiographer, radiotherapy review specialist or doctor.  

The radiotherapy treatment you have received will continue to have an effect on you after the treatment has finished. The benefits of the treatment may take some time to show and the time it takes varies from person to person.  

Any short-term side affects you have been experiencing or have been advised to expect will continue after your treatment finishes. These often peak seven to 10 days after treatment finishes and then take another one to two weeks to settle down. Until then, please continue to follow the advice you were given on how to manage these during your treatment.  

Common concerns after treatment

Skin care

If you feel that your skin in the area treated becomes significantly worse after your treatment finishes, for example breaking down or weeping, please contact the radiotherapy department for advice. You also still need to be mindful of how you look after you skin in the area treated with radiotherapy after any skin reactions you experienced during treatment have gone. You should avoid direct sun exposure to the area wherever possible, especially for the first eight weeks following treatment, and continue to wear factor 30+ sun creams for at least the first year. You should avoid swimming until all skin reactions have settled.  

Tiredness (fatigue)

Often people continue to feel tired after their treatment has finished. This can take anywhere from weeks to months to return to normal. Allow yourself time to recover and rest when you feel you need to. Gentle exercise often helps to improve fatigue.  

Your mental wellbeing

People sometimes feel isolated or in a low mood, particularly once your contact with the hospital becomes less frequent after finishing treatment. Please remember that the team caring for you is still available and other support services such as Macmillan Cancer Support and Maggie’s. More information on this can be found on the reverse of this sheet.

Your follow up appointment

It is normal to wait for at least a few weeks, sometimes longer, following the completion of your treatment before you have any follow up tests or scans. This is because the treatment often inflames or irritates the area treated which would interfere with any results taken.

Your doctor has requested that you have your first follow up appointment ___ weeks after your radiotherapy treatment finishes. If you have not received an appointment by this time, please contact your doctor’s secretary.  

Who to contact if you have concerns?

Please keep an eye out for any unexpected changes in your condition following your treatment. If you have any concerns, please contact your specialist nurse or your GP. Please ensure that you tell them when you finished your treatment and what area of your body was treated.  

Radiotherapy review specialist

For help, advice and support about your radiotherapy side effects.

  • Tel: 020 7830 2919  

Radiotherapy and oncology counsellors  

For counselling and emotional support at any time, both during and after your illness.

  • Tel: 020 7830 2084  

Oncology outpatient clinic at the Royal Free Hospital

For follow up appointment enquiries at the Royal Free Hospital.

  • Tel: 020 7830 2084  

Specialist nurse

For problems directly associated with your cancer or other cancer treatments. Please use the number provided at the start of your treatment.

Maggie’s at the Royal Free Hospital

Maggie's offers free practical emotional and social support for anyone with cancer, their family, and friends.  

Macmillan Cancer Support

Macmillan is available for anyone with cancer and their loved ones. It provides information booklets in a variety of languages and offers practical tips on treatment side effects, symptoms, and survivorship as well as referrals to other support groups and specialist services.

Their information centres can be found:

Barnet Hospital

  • Location: Inside the main entrance on level one).
  • Opening hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Closed Wednesday.
  • Tel: 020 8216 4142.  
  • Email: rf-tr.BarnetCancerInfo@nhs.net.

Chase Farm Hospital

  • Location: Ground floor of the main building).
  • Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm.
  • Tel: 020 8375 2247  
  • Email: rf-tr.BarnetCancerInfo@nhs.net.  

Royal Free Hospital

  • Location: Inside the oncology outpatients department on the ground floor).
  • Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday, 10am to 4pm.
  • Tel: 020 7794 0500, extension 31337.
  • Email: rf.cancerinfo@nhs.net.