Hello Anne and thank you for your post,

Although you don't tell us what type of cancer you have it looks like it could be breast cancer. So the information below is in reference to that. 

I can see that you are concerned about how long you might have to wait to receive radiotherapy after breast surgery.  The current guidance about this is that it is recommended to be given within 4-6 weeks, as long as adequate wound healing has taken place, you can read about this on our website here  

While many hospitals are able to give post operative radiotherapy within this time frame some may struggle to do this. So I think to be sure about how long you will need to wait you should discuss this with your breast team. If you do want to consider having radiotherapy done privately then do talk this through with your your specialist team with this decision.  You may still have to wait to have it done privately. If you do want to have it privately your breast team may be able to say where it should be done and also refer you.

I can only find limited research looking into this. One, of which looked at 1000 women with breast cancer and if a delay ( up to 120 days) in giving post operative radiotherapy affected overall survival. It concluded that with early breast cancer, waiting up to 120 days there was no difference in survival.  There was a difference in women with locally advanced (the cancer has spread to lymph nodes). 

Also you might find it interesting to know that there is a trial ( that has just closed to recruitment) that is looking at whether it is necessary to treat all women with radiotherapy after having breast conserving surgery (lumpectomy). You can read more about this trial here  

Remember that this radiotherapy may be part of a package of post operative treatments you will be recommended to have. This could be chemotherapy, targeted treatments and  hormonal treatment. All treatments have a role in reducing the risk of your cancer coming back.

I hope this has been helpful. Please get back to us if you need any more information or support.  You may find it helpful to talk things through with one of the nurses on our helpline.  The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

Take care,

Caroline