Patient information leaflets

Patient information for Translation

After your Radiotherapy has Finished

Useful Contact Details

• Radiotherapy Reception 020 3465 5222

• Emergency Hotline 07917 093 738  (when the department is closed)

• Maggie’s Centre 0203 904 3448

• St Bartholomew’s hospital  020 7377 7000

• Radiotherapy secretary email address bartshealth.clinicaloncologysecretaries@nhs.net

How should I take care of my skin after radiotherapy?

Continue with your recommended skin care for a period of four weeks, or until your skin reaction has settled.

Avoid exposing the treatment area to the sun and wind at all times. Cover up well e.g. use a wide brimmed hat or high neck / long sleeve top and always use sun block SPF 50 on the treatment area for life.

What should I eat and drink?

Ensure you drink sufficient fluids – aim for 2 Litres per day. Water, soft drinks, tea or juice all count towards this.

Continue with any special dietary advice until your symptoms resolve, then gradually return to a well-balanced diet.

How long will it take to recover?

After your treatment, you should allow yourself time to recover as it is common for side effects to be at their most severe towards the end of treatment.

Your side effects may get slightly worse before they get better over the next 2-3 weeks. Any tiredness you have can sometimes continue for several months. 

I’m worried about the side effects – who can I talk to?

If you have any concerns about your side effects, please do not hesitate to contact us on the number at the back of this leaflet. Or drop in to the radiotherapy department. We are here to help.

If you have an urgent medical problem relating to your radiotherapy outside working hours (i.e evenings and weekends), please contact our emergency hotline: 07917 093 738.

All other medical problems should be referred to your GP as usual, during normal working hours.

When can I go back to work?

If you are tired after your treatment has finished, it may be advisable to consider taking a break from work. Sometimes it is more beneficial to allow time for your body to recover rather than continuing to struggle with tiredness.

If possible, it may be a good idea to go back to work on a part-time basis initially if possible. Speak to your consultant at follow up to discuss a sick certificate if required.

When can I play sports/exercise again?

This will depend on how you feel and the type of treatment you have had. It may be best to start slowly and build up exercise gradually. If you have any difficulties, i.e. fatigue or injuries, stop immediately until you have recovered. Recovery time varies from person to person. Listen to your body and don’t push too hard too quickly. Please discuss any concerns regarding this with your GP or oncologist at your follow-up appointment.

The Maggie’s Centre (0203 904 3448)

Finishing cancer treatment can be unnerving and can cause a lot of stress both physically and emotionally.

The Maggie’s Centre at St Barts is a facility which provides patients and family with free practical, emotional and social support.

It also offers many workshops including yoga, dance classes, information drop in clinics and counselling on a one-to-one basis as well as group sessions.

I’m finding it hard to adjust emotionally – who can I talk to?

A diagnosis of cancer, the actual treatment and physical effects of this, inevitably have an emotional impact. For many people, coping with the fear of the cancer coming back is the hardest part of finishing treatment.

When your treatment ends, it is natural to feel insecure and anxious. If you find that your concerns or worries persist, please do not hesitate to contact your GP or visit The Maggie’s Centre.

Be assured, the people there are very used to helping with such feelings and supporting patients emotionally.

Follow-up appointment

You will be given an appointment to see either your consultant oncologist or the consultant who referred you for radiotherapy. Your appointment may be either at St Bartholomew’s (Barts) or The Royal London Hospital – either way, you can book an appointment at the reception desk. If your appointment is not at Barts or The Royal London but another hospital, the appointment letter will be sent by post to your home address.

Your consultant oncologist will write to your GP explaining the treatment you have received. 

Getting to the hospital

If you requested hospital transport for your treatment at St Bartholomew’s or The Royal London Hospital, you will need to visit Barts Transport website to book transport. https://www.bartshealth.nhs.uk/transport

Summary of your treatment

Date your radiotherapy finished:  ____________________

Dose received: _______Gy   in ____sessions   

Follow-up clinic appointment:

Hospital:

Date and time:

Radiotherapy consultant:

Secretary to your consultant: 

Contact Us

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy Basement, King George V Wing (KGV), St Bartholomew’s Hospital, West Smithfield, London EC1A 7BE

Radiotherapy Reception 020 3465 5222

Emergency Hotline (when the department is closed) 07917 093 738

Maggie’s Centre @ St Barts

St Bartholomew’s Hospital, West Smithfield, London, EC1A 7BE

Tel: 0203 904 3448  Drop-in Mon-Fri: 9am-4pm

https://www.maggiescentres.org/our-centres/maggies-barts/

Large print and other languages
This information can be made available in alternative formats, such as easy read or large print, and may be available in alternative languages, upon request. For more information, speak to your clinical team.
 

এই তথ্যগুলো সহজে পড়া যায় অথবা বৃহৎ প্রিন্টের মত বিকল্প ফরম্যাটে পাওয়া যাবে, এবং অনুরোধে অন্য ভাষায়ও পাওয়া যেতে পারে। আরো তথ্যের জন্য আপনার ক্লিনিক্যাল টিমের সাথে কথা বলুন।

Na żądanie te informacje mogą zostać udostępnione w innych formatach, takich jak zapis większą czcionką lub łatwą do czytania, a także w innych językach. Aby uzyskać więcej informacji, porozmawiaj ze swoim zespołem specjalistów.

Macluumaadkaan waxaa loo heli karaa qaab kale, sida ugu akhrinta ugu fudud, ama far waa weyn, waxana laga yabaa in lagu heli luuqaado Kale, haddii la codsado. Wixii macluumaad dheeraad ah, kala hadal kooxda xarunta caafimaadka.

Bu bilgi, kolay okunurluk veya büyük baskılar gibi alternatif biçimlerde sunulabilir, ve talep üzerine Alternatif Dillerde sunulabilir. Daha fazla bilgi için klinik ekibinizle irtibata geçin.

یہ معلومات متبادل فارمیٹس میں دستیاب کی جا سکتی ہیں، جیسا کہ پڑھنے میں آسان یا بڑا پرنٹ  اور درخواست پر متبادل زبانوں میں بھی دستیاب ہو سکتی ہیں۔ مزید معلومات کے لیے، اپنی کلینکل ٹیم سے بات کریں'۔

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)

Please contact us if you need general information or advice about Trust services: www.bartshealth.nhs.uk/pals

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Reference: BH/PIN/857

Publication date: Dec 2021

All our patient information leaflets are reviewed every three years.

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