Medicine

Patient information for Translation

Radiotherapy to the abdomen

Important

Please tell us if you have a pacemaker as we will need to monitor your heart during your treatment.

Please let us know if you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant.

It is important to remember that you need to use contraception whilst receiving treatment for cancer in order to prevent pregnancy – please see our leaflet ‘Avoiding pregnancy during radiotherapy and chemotherapy’.

Introduction

Radiotherapy is used to treat cancer using machines called Linear Accelerators (Linac). The Linac aims carefully measured doses of radiation to the abdomen.

Radiation is invisible and painless.

What happens during a radiotherapy session?

You will be asked to remove the top half of your clothing and put on a gown. Once you are lying on the treatment couch, the radiographers will guide you into the correct position. They will check various measurements before starting treatment.

You will be left alone during the treatment, but the radiographers will be watching you on cameras at all times. If you need assistance for any reason, raise your hand and the staff will come back into the room.

Your appointment will last between 10-20 minutes every day. Most of this time will be taken getting you into the correct position for treatment. The radiographers will operate the Linac from outside the treatment room. You will only be left alone for two or three minutes at a time while the radiation is switched on.

This routine will be the same for every session.

Skin care

The following advice will help you look after your skin during treatment:

• You can wash, shower or bath normally.
• Treat your skin gently, do not rub the skin too hard, especially around your tummy. When drying gently pat with a soft towel
• You can use an underarm deodorant
• Avoid extremes of temperature, for example direct sunlight, hot water bottles, electric blankets, and ice packs
• Keep your skin moisturised. Apply E45 cream, aloe vera or Enopen cream twice a day during your treatment

Other things you should know

• You should eat and drink normally before and after radiotherapy treatment
• Avoid tight fitting clothes
• You are not radioactive and can be around children and pregnant women.

Side effects of radiotherapy

We plan your radiotherapy treatment so that the dose given to the tumour is maximised without causing damage to surrounding normal tissues. However, it is not possible to avoid the normal tissues completely. 

Most side effects you may experience will be limited to the area you have the radiotherapy – in this case your abdomen.

Short term side effects

Skin soreness: During treatment you may find that the skin in the treatment area becomes red, itchy or sore. Apply a moisturiser (listed above) twice a day.

Nausea: Nausea can occur if we are treating near the liver or upper Gastro-Intestinal (GI) area or if you are having chemotherapy in conjunction with your radiotherapy treatment.

Anti-sickness medication (anti-emetics) can be prescribed by your doctor to help with nausea. Ginger is also a good herbal remedy for nausea.

Try to:

• Avoid fatty, fried, and strong smelling food, acidic and very sweet foods
• Eat several small meals a day, rather than one or two bigger meals.

Bowel/ bladder changes: You may have loose bowel motions or diarrhoea or difficulty passing stools (constipation). You may also experience stomach cramps/bloating and changes in passing urine and frequency.  Please tell us if you are having uncomfortable or painful bowel/ urination changes. Try to stay hydrated and avoid spicy foods which can irritate your gut.

Fatigue: You may feel tired during your course of treatment. Rest as much as you feel you need to.

Drink plenty of water during your treatment, we recommend 2 litres per day.

Please note that any side effects that occur during your treatment will continue and/or may get worse a week or two after your last treatment appointment. Please allow 2-4 weeks before returning back to your normal routine.

Long term side effects

Careful treatment planning helps to limit the occurrence of long-term effects. While you are unlikely to be affected by them, it is important that you are aware of their existence. If they do arise it can be several months or even years after the treatment has finished.

Potential effects can include permanent changes to your bowel habits and possible reduction of kidney and liver functions. If you have any concerns please discuss with your oncologist.

Once your radiotherapy has ended you will have regular follow-up appointments with your consultant and you will be carefully monitored for any potential signs of long-term effects.

If you are worried about your side effects after your treatment has finished, please contact your GP or your specialist cancer nurse or refer to the phone numbers on the back page of this leaflet.

Smoking and alcohol use

We strongly advise that you give up smoking and cut or reduce your intake of alcohol, as this makes side effects potentially worse. There are smoking cessation programs available, please ask one of the staff members.

Contact Us

Radiotherapy

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

Radiotherapy Reception 020 346 55222

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

Macmillan Cancer Information Centre

Vicky Clement-Jones

Ground Floor, West Wing, St Bartholomew’s Hospital.

Just drop in Mon-Fri 10am-12noon and 2-4.30pm. Or call on 020 346 56611.

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/843

Publication date: Dec 2021

All our patient information leaflets are reviewed every three years.

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