Radio chemotherapy

Radiotherapy targets a planned area, while chemotherapy travels through the bloodstream and may affect cancer cells beyond that area. Depending on the cancer, chemotherapy may be given before, during or after radiotherapy. Some medicines make cancer cells more sensitive to radiation, which can also make nearby healthy tissue more sensitive. Your oncology team chooses the medicines, doses and timing after considering the cancer type, treatment area, kidney function, hearing, blood counts and other health conditions.

Possible effects vary with the drugs and body region. Tiredness, nausea, appetite changes, sore skin, mouth or throat irritation, bowel changes, hair loss, and lower blood counts can occur. Not everyone has the same pattern, and supportive medicines can reduce several effects.

Before treatment starts, give the team a complete medicine list and tell them about dental problems, infections, pregnancy or plans for pregnancy, and any difficulty eating or drinking. Keep appointments for blood tests and treatment reviews. Eat small nourishing meals if appetite is low, drink according to your team’s advice, protect irritated skin from friction and sunlight, and wash hands regularly. Ask before taking non-prescribed medicines or supplements.

Call your oncology team urgently for a fever, chills, sudden rash, repeated vomiting, severe diarrhoea, inability to drink, unusual bleeding, or marked weakness. Seek emergency help for severe breathlessness, chest pain, confusion, or swelling of the face or throat. A low blood count can make infection more serious, so follow the personal temperature and contact instructions supplied by your unit.

Ask what each treatment is intended to do, how the appointments fit together, which blood tests are needed, how to manage nausea or mouth soreness, whether work or travel needs adjustment, and whom to contact outside clinic hours.