1. Guidelines Best Practice 2023

• Diarrhoea and constipation
• Sore mouth – mouth ulcers
• Tiredness
• Dry skin and nails
• Pins and needles
• Tinnitus
• Change in kidney function.
• Dizziness, anxiety, headaches.
• Chemotherapy can affect skin’s natural moisture because it reduces the amount of oil the
glands secrete. Skin can be helped by using moisturiser more frequently, or by using a heavier
weight moisturiser. During the day, use a product that protects your skin from the sun,
blocking UVA and UVB rays.
• Be sure to use a gentle, moisturising soap or cleansing cream, and avoid soaps with heavy
deodorants or scents. Soaps for babies may be a good choice because they’re usually mild and
perfume free.
Radiotherapy
• Radiotherapy is the use of carefully measured doses of radiation to destroy abnormal cells in
the body and is administered by Therapeutic Radiologists.
• It destroys the cancer cells in the treated area and although normal cells are also damaged,
they can usually recover.
• This treatment may be given before or after surgery/ chemotherapy, alongside chemotherapy
or on its own.
• For some types of radiotherapy treatment, a patient may need to go to hospital each weekday
for between two and seven weeks. At each appointment a small dose of radiotherapy is given
to allow healthy cells time to recover.
• Each treatment is called a “fraction” and the radiotherapy is delivered by machines called
Linear Accelerators
• Each treatment is individually planned for each patient and usually takes 10-15 minutes or
less, including the time taken to position the patient. It is painless and does not make the
patient radioactive.
• It is perfectly safe for a patient receiving radiotherapy to be with other people, including
children, throughout their course of treatment.
Side effects of radiotherapy
• Tiredness – some patients may feel excessively tired or exhausted with a debilitating
fatigue that is not relieved by rest.
• Skin reactions – change in skin colour, rashes, soreness, irritation or peeling around site
of radiotherapy. Sensitivity to the sun
• Loss of appetite – digestive problems
Skin that receives radiation treatment has an increased risk of developing skin cancer in the future
and it is very important to take extra precautions to protect the skin within the radiation treatment
field from the sun.
Effects of Cancer Treatments
• It is important to be aware that patients may react differently to their treatments.
• Facial hair may be lost, and skin can be more sensitive.
• Skin can be more sensitive to sunlight, wind or other elements.
Doc 1 *Updated: 12 th January 2023 cc
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