Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy uses strong rays, like X-rays, to target and damage the DNA inside cancer cells. This makes it hard for the cancer cells to grow and divide, causing them to die.

Radiotherapy (or radiation therapy) isn’t commonly used to treat kidney cancer because it doesn’t work as well for this type of cancer. However, it may be used in certain cases, such as:

• To ease symptoms: If kidney cancer has spread to other parts of the body, like the bones, and is causing pain, radiotherapy can help lessen the pain and make you feel better.
• After surgery: Sometimes, radiotherapy is used after surgery to make sure all cancer cells are gone, but this is not usually needed for kidney cancer.
• For hard-to-reach tumours: If the tumour is in a difficult place to treat with surgery, radiotherapy might be used to shrink it.

In many cases, radiotherapy is used along with other treatments, like surgery, immunotherapy, or antiangiogenic therapy, to get the best results.

How it works

Before treatment starts, you'll have a session where the doctors take pictures (like X-rays or CT scans) of the area. This helps them find exactly where the cancer is. They might mark your skin with tiny, permanent dots to make sure the radiation goes to the right spot.

During treatment, you'll lie on a table, and the radiotherapy machine will be set up around you. The machine doesn’t touch you, but it aims radiation at the tumour. The treatment is quick and painless, usually lasting only a few minutes. You'll have several sessions over a few weeks, depending on your plan.

After each treatment, you can go home. You might feel tired or have some side effects, but your doctor will help you take care of them.

What are the side effects?

Radiotherapy affects people in different ways, so it’s difficult to predict exactly how you will react. Some people have only mild side effects but for others the side effects are more serious. Some of the main side effects are explained below.

• Tiredness and weakness
  It’s normal to feel tired during radiotherapy, especially if you’re having treatment over several weeks. This happens because your body is working to repair healthy cells that have been affected by the treatment. Sometimes, tiredness can also be caused by low red blood cell levels (anaemia). You might feel weak and as though you don’t have the energy to do your usual activities. This feeling can last for a few weeks after your treatment ends. Make sure to rest when you need to and try to get a little bit of exercise when you can. It can help reduce the tiredness and improve your energy.
• Sore skin
  Some people may experience sore skin in the area being treated. It can look red or darker than usual, and it might feel dry and itchy. In some cases, the skin may break, or small blisters could form. The staff in the radiotherapy department are there to help and can give you advice on how to take care of your skin during this time.
• Hair loss
  Radiotherapy makes the hair fall out in the treatment area, but it doesn't affect hair in other parts of your body. Your hair should start to grow back a few weeks after your treatment ends.

• Other side effects
  Other side effects can depend on which part of your body is being treated. It’s important to let your doctor, nurse, or radiographer know about any side effects you are noticing. They can help you find ways to feel better.

  A radiographer is a healthcare worker who takes pictures of the inside of your body using machines like X-rays or CT scans. In radiotherapy, they help set up and direct the radiation treatment, making sure it's done safely and correctly. They work with doctors to make sure you get the right treatment.

Possible long-lasting side effect

For most people, the side effects of radiotherapy go away a few weeks after treatment, and they can go back to their normal life. But for some, there can be side effects that last longer.

The chance of long-lasting side effects depends on the type of cancer, where it is, and how close it is to important organs or nerves.

It’s a good idea to talk to your doctor, nurse, or radiographer about any long-term side effects. Some possible long-lasting effects, depending on where the cancer was treated, could include:

• The treated area may have a different skin colour or texture, and it might stay sensitive for a long time.
• If the radiation was near your mouth, it can lead to a dry mouth, which may make it harder to speak, swallow, or taste food.
• Radiation to areas near the lungs may cause breathing problems or make it harder to breathe deeply.
• Difficulty becoming pregnant or having children (infertility)
• You may have a lower sex drive or, for men, trouble getting and keeping an erection.
• Some people may feel a constant soreness or pain in the area that was treated.
• If the radiation was near your digestive system, you may notice changes in your bowel movements, like diarrhoea or constipation (when you have difficulty passing stool).
• Radiotherapy near the bladder can cause long-lasting irritation.

Last updated: February 2025