What are the commonest side-effects of radiotherapy?
Most men experience some side-effects during radiotherapy but the severity varies from person to person. Side effects can occur during treatment (acute) and are usually temporary or later after the treatment has finished and these can be permanent. You should however be able to continue normal activities during the radiotherapy. Acute or Short Term side effects are temporary and usually occur in the last three or four weeks of treatment and start to get better a few weeks after the treatment is over. You will be given advice about diet and skin care before the treatment starts. Your doctor will prescribe creams and medicines if you need help with any of these problems. The common temporary side effects are tiredness, frequency and stinging when passing urine, diarrhoea and soreness in the rectum. There can be occasionally be some bleeding or mucous (slime) form the rectum. There may be some darkening and soreness of the skin in the area being treated especially between the legs and aro
