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What to expect with radiotherapy

During each treatment session you will be asked to undress to the waist and lie on a couch in the same position as during your treatment planning.
When the radiographer is satisfied that you are in exactly the right position, he or she will switch on the radiotherapy machine which will move around you.

The machine is placed a few feet away from your breast, which is normally treated from two angles - one on each side of your breast. This means that most of the radiation goes sideways through your breast, and very little affects other tissues, such as your lungs. You may also have radiotherapy to your armpit.

Each treatment session will probably
only last a few minutes.
You won't feel anything while the x-ray beam is switched on. Each treatment session will probably only last a few minutes. You can then get dressed and go home or back to work.

Having radiotherapy doesn't make you radioactive. You can mix safely with your family and friends.

The side effects of radiotherapy for breast cancer are usually mild.

You will probably have radiotherapy treatment five days a week for three to six
weeks.

You will probably have radiotherapy treatment five days a week for three to six weeks. This may include a 'boost' treatment to a smaller part of your breast from which your lump was removed. This is to help prevent it coming back.

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