What to expect from radiotherapy for soft tissue sarcoma

Radiotherapy may be given before surgery to help reduce the chance of tumour cells remaining at the edge of the planned operation, or after surgery to treat the area where the sarcoma was removed. The team maps the treatment area with scans and a planning appointment. During each visit, you lie in the same position while a machine directs radiation at the selected region; the session itself is usually brief, and the radiation is not felt.

Effects depend on the body region treated. Skin may become warm, pink, darker, dry, or tender, while nearby muscles and soft tissues can feel tight or swollen. Tiredness may build as visits continue. Your oncology team can adjust care for the treated area and explain how surgery, rehabilitation, or other treatments fit with the plan.

Attend the planning visit in comfortable clothing and mention metalwork, implants, previous radiation, medicines, and any difficulty holding a treatment position. Keep the treatment area clean and use only products approved by your team; avoid rubbing, scratching, heating, or cooling the skin unless advised. Protect the area from direct sun and wear soft clothing if friction is uncomfortable.

Rest between appointments, keep gently active when your team agrees, and use prescribed exercises to protect movement near a joint. Tell the team early about pain, swelling, reduced movement, or difficulty managing daily tasks so support can begin promptly.

Contact your oncology team if the treated skin becomes increasingly open, blistered, wet, or painful; if swelling rapidly worsens; or if pain is not controlled by the agreed plan. Seek urgent help for trouble breathing, sudden weakness, severe bleeding, or a high temperature with feeling very unwell. Your team can tell you which service to call outside clinic hours.

Ask why radiotherapy is recommended before or after surgery, which tissues are included, how it may affect movement, and whether physiotherapy should start during treatment. Ask which creams or dressings are suitable, how fatigue may affect work and travel, and who to contact about new symptoms.