External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) does not make you radioactive, and it is perfectly safe for you to be with and around other people, including children, throughout your treatment.

Your individual radiation therapy treatment plan has been carefully calculated, so it is important that you do not miss any appointments.  However, if missing an appointment is unavoidable, please discuss this with your radiation therapist as soon as you can.

Radiation therapy is a local treatment, meaning it only affects the area of the body where the radiation is targeted.

Unless your radiation treatment is targeted at an area where hair grows, such as your scalp or face, you will not lose your hair. People having radiation therapy for breast cancer may find their underarm hair will fall out if it is near the radiated area, however it will grow back in time.

Yes, it is safe for you to drive after you receive radiation therapy treatment. However, if you feel unfit or unwell to do so, please advise a team member immediately.

This depends on where you are having treatment. If you are a woman having radiation therapy to the abdomen or pelvis, the amount of radiation absorbed by the ovaries will determine the potential impact on your fertility.

Radiation to the pituitary gland may also influence fertility, as the pituitary gland normally signals the ovaries to ovulate. Radiation to both testes in men is rare, however if you require this therapy your fertility may be affected.

Please speak with your radiation oncologist should you or your partner wish to become pregnant, or if you have fertility concerns.

It is important you are not pregnant or become pregnant at any time during radiation therapy, as x-rays for positioning can harm the foetus. If you think you may be pregnant at any time, it is extremely important to discuss this with a member of your radiation therapy team. If you wish to become pregnant after your treatment please discuss this with your radiation oncologist prior to commencing.

For men having radiation therapy to their pelvic region, it is advised that you do not father children during treatment. Radiation therapy may damage your sperm, which can lead to birth abnormalities. If you wish to father children after this treatment, please discuss this with your radiation oncologist prior to commencing.

People who receive radiation therapy may experience skin dryness, itching, or peeling. These usually resolve a few weeks after treatment has finished. A common side effect is fatigue, a feeling of exhaustion that does not improve with rest. Your level of fatigue may depend on whether you are undergoing other treatments, such as chemotherapy. Although most side effects go away after radiation therapy has finished, some long-term effects may occur.

As radiation therapy is localised to an area of the body, you may only experience side effects in this area. Your radiation oncologist and treatment team will discuss the type of side effects you may experience.

If you have radiation therapy to your abdominal region, you may feel nauseous or queasy. This will usually resolve when your course of treatment is completed. If you notice you are feeling nauseated for a prolonged period of time, please inform our team so we can suggest ways to manage this.

Radiation therapy is typically painless and most patients will feel little to no discomfort during treatment. You will not see or feel the radiation, but you may hear noise from the equipment.

Please tell your radiation therapist if the position is causing you pain or is making you feel unwell.

Treatment is usually given in daily intervals (Monday to Friday) for up to several weeks. A treatment session may only last 15 to 20 minutes, however you may need to attend other appointments, such as seeing your radiation oncologist.