Radiotherapy or X-ray treatment is very effective on its own in treating many cancers, such as head and neck, cervical, lung and brain.
It is also given as supplementary treatment after cancer has been removed through surgery (e.g. breast cancer).
X-ray treatment is often given every weekday for a number of days or weeks, depending on the cancer type. You may need to pay for parking in England and Northern Ireland – it depends on how frequently you have treatment (more info here). It is free in Wales and Scotland.
As the X-rays hit the skin every day during the period of treatment, they can cause irritation similar to a sunburn. It is important to keep your skin supple (applying moisturiser few times a day will do the trick) and away from the sun, during and after treatment. It is important to not use your own moisturiser. Only use the one given to you by your specialist team.
Make sure you tell your treating doctor if you suffer from any skin problems.
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