RadiotherapyDiagnosis and Treatment

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This booklet uses easy wordsand pictures to help you getinformation about cancer.

You might want someone tohelp you look at the bookletso you can talk about it.

This booklet can help youlearn about cancer. But this is not the same as talking toyour doctor. If you are worried about your health, you should talk to a doctor or nurse.

There is a Word Bank at theback of the booklet to helpwith hard words. Any wordsin bold you can find in theWord Bank.

What is radiotherapy?

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Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy uses strongx-rays to kill cancer cells.It can be used on manytypes of cancer.

Radiotherapy is given bya machine. This sends x-rays to the part of yourbody where the cancerhas been found.

You will usually have ashort treatment everyday.

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Radiotherapy

The number of treatments you have willdepend on what kind ofcancer you have. Everyperson will be different.

Radiotherapy - what happens

You will have your treatment in the radiotherapy departmentof the hospital. It will bedone by a person called aradiographer.

It is very important to goto every treatment. If youmiss one, it may not workas well.

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Radiotherapy

If you have a long way totravel each day for yourtreatment, then ask yoursupporter if they candrive you to the hospital.

Some hospitals providetransport. Charities andsupport groups sometimes do this too.

Ask the staff in the radiotherapy departmentabout this.

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Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy can makeyou feel very tired. Itcould help to take yoursupporter when youcome for treatments.

Before you start yourtreatment you will beasked to give your consent. This means youhave agreed to have thetreatment.

Before your first treatment,the radiographer will tellyou what you will see andhear during the treatment.

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Radiotherapy

It’s good to ask any questions and talk aboutanything that is worryingyou.

You may be able to goand see the radiotherapy department before yourtreatment, so that youknow what will happen.

When you come for your treatment, the radiographer will help you to lie down in theright position.

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Radiotherapy

If you are having radiotherapy on yourhead, you might have towear a special mask onyour face to help youkeep still.

The radiographer willthen have to leave theroom, so they are protected from the strongx-rays. But don’t worry,they can still see andhear you and talk with you.

You will then have tokeep very still while theradiotherapy is happening.

Radiotherapy

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The radiotherapy machine might have tomove about to give youthe treatment from different directions.

Try not to worry aboutthis or the noise the machine makes. Thewhole treatment usuallyonly takes 10 to 15 minutes.

The treatment does nothurt.

Radiotherapy

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But it can cause someside effects. These arethings that happenbecause of the treatment,like feeling tired or sick.

The side effects you havewill depend on the part ofyour body being treated.There is more informationabout this in the ‘Side effects from radiotherapy’booklet.

Word B a nk

Drawing by Tracey HarrisonVolunteer and Illustrator with learning disabilities

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Word Bank

CellsThe tiny building blocksthat make up people’sbodies.

Consent This means you understand why you needtreatment and say that itis OK to have it. You canalso decide that you don’twant to have treatment.

DiagnosisA diagnosis is finding outwhether you have an illness or not.

RadiographerA person who takesscans and x-rays of people's bodies. Theycan also give people radiotherapy treatment.

Side effectsThese are things thathappen because of yourtreatment, such as feelingtired or sick.

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Word Bank

X-raysX-rays are powerful raysor beams that can beused to treat cancer.

Notes

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Us eful conta cts

Drawing by Tracey HarrisonVolunteer and Illustrator with learning disabilities

Helpful organisations

Useful contacts

Cancer Research UKA charity that is researching treatments for cancer. Its website has lots of information about cancer.Phone: 0808 800 4040Web: www.cancerresearchuk.org

Macmillan Cancer SupportA charity that helps people who have cancer. They give practical, medicaland financial support. They try to make cancer care in the UK better.Phone: 0808 808 00 00Web: www.macmillan.org.uk

NHS ContactsThese contacts give you information about your health and health services:England and Scotland Phone: 111Wales Phone: 0845 46 47Northern Ireland Web: www.hscni.net

Paul’s Cancer Support CentreGives help, information and complementary therapies to people withcancer. Phone: 0207 924 3924Web: www.paulscancersupportcentre.org.uk

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Useful contacts

RESPONDGives therapy to people with learning disabilities after trauma or abuse.They also offer training and support to carers.Phone: 0808 808 07 00Web: www.respond.org.uk

Written and audio material

Books Beyond WordsA series of picture books for people with learning disabilities. The bookstalk about cancer, health and bereavement.Web: www.booksbeyondwords.co.ukPhone: 020 8877 9799Email: admin@booksbeyondwords.co.uk

FAIR MultimediaPublishes a range of health leaflets, audio discs and CDs for peoplewith learning disabilities. This includes a series on cancer.Email: fair@fairadvice.org.ukPhone: 0131 662 1962Web: www.fairadvice.org.uk/health-publications.php

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Online help

Useful contacts

www.easyhealth.org.ukHas lots of online health information that is easy to understand.

www.macmillan.org.ukHas lots of information aboutcancer and where to get help.You can also talk to other people with cancer in the online community.

Videos and DVDsLeeds Animation WorkshopHas animated films on social issues for people with learning disabilities. Thereis one called ‘Getting Better’ about going to the doctor and the health clinic.Phone: 0113 248 4997Web: www.leedsanimation.org.uk/index.html

Speak Up Self AdvocacyHas DVDs and booklets for people with learning disabilities about health and illness.Web: www.speakup.org.uk

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Macmillan Cancer Support has reviewed the information in thisbooklet and paid for it to be produced. They are a charity whohelp people with cancer. They have nurses and other healthworkers. They try to make cancer care in the UK better. Theyhave experts who can answer your questions about cancer andhow it affects your life. You can call Macmillan on 0808 808 00 00or textphone 0808 808 0121 (Mon–Fri, 9am–8pm). Or go tomacmillan.org.uk

CHANGE is a leading national Human Rights organisation led bydisabled people. We work for equal rights for all people withlearning disabilities. The cancer books and booklets thatCHANGE have produced are part of an ongoing campaign toraise awareness about the issues of cancer for people withlearning disabilities. You can call CHANGE on 0113 242 6619,email info@changepeople.org or find us at www.changepeople.org

This easy read booklet was produced by CHANGE © CHANGE 2016