VIDEO: Late effects – your questions answered
With thanks to Dr Samantha Bostock, Macmillan Radiotherapy Late Effects Lead Radiographer.
About Late effects
Radiotherapy late effects are symptoms that can happen three to six months after your treatment has ended, and sometimes even years afterwards. Or you may have side effects that start during treatment and never go away.
If you have any new, or worsening, symptoms after radiotherapy, speak to a healthcare professional. It is important to rule out new or returning cancer as a cause.
Many people do make a good recovery after radiotherapy, which is a very targeted and precise treatment. But some people do get late effects. This video looks at common questions about late effects:
- What is a late effect?
- Can I get any help?
- Will I ever feel ‘normal’ again after cancer treatment?
Further information
Before you finish treatment, ask your team if there are any support or services available through your local hospital. Please note, not every hospital has a late effects service.
If you have already finished treatment, the Pelvic Radiation Disease Association keeps a directory of late effects services (HERE).
You can find tools for managing sex after cancer treatment (HERE).
You can find information about menopause (HERE) as this is an early and late effect for some radiotherapy patients who have treatment on or near their reproductive organs.
If you have cancer-related fatigue, you can refer yourself (HERE) to Bath Centre for Fatigue Services.
