Hello,

Thank you for your post and for explaining your current situation. Hopefully, your hospital care team should outline this for you in more detail according to your treatment plan. We can however, broadly outline some information for you that may be of interest.

Any treatment side effects often start around the second week of treatment and may peak just after the 10 fractions are completed, gradually resolving over a few weeks. 

In terms of more short term immediate side effects, you may experience fatigue or a degree of tiredness. This is quite common and can build up towards the end of the 10 sessions and continue for several weeks after, often feeling like a deep tiredness that doesn't fully improve with rest.

Sometimes, there can be a temporary skin reaction. The skin on your thigh within the treatment area may become red, dark, itchy, or dry (similar to a sunburn). In some cases, it can blister or peel, though this is less common with modern targeted techniques. Your hospital treatment team can advise on skin care to help reduce this, if needed. Wash the area gently with mild soap and pat dry. Avoid rubbing, and do not use perfumed lotions, creams, or tight clothing on the area.

There can be loss of hair in the treated area of your thigh. This is temporary, but the hair may grow back with a different texture or colour. The tumour itself may swell slightly initially, causing a temporary increase in pain before it reduces and the muscles or joints in your thigh might feel stiffer or uncomfortable during treatment, which can be managed with gentle movement. There can also be mild swelling or tenderness which should resolve after treatment has finished.

Longer term side effects can include skin in the treated area remaining slightly darker than the surrounding skin or feel thicker. Small broken blood vessels (telangiectasia) might become visible on the surface. The muscle or soft tissue in the thigh may become tighter or less flexible, known as radiation fibrosis.

Less common long term side effects can occur if the radiotherapy affects the lymph channels in your thigh or groin. You may experience persistent swelling (lymphoedema) in the leg, which can be managed with specialized stockings or physiotherapy.

I hope that this helps, and hope that your planned treatment goes well.

Best wishes,

Vanda

Cancer Information Nurse