External beam radiotherapy - a common treatment for breast cancer

Content warning: This video has images and sounds representing cancer treatment. The VERT software by Vertual Ltd gives a 3D representation of the inside of a patient’s body, including organs. Some people may find this triggering or upsetting.

You can add subtitles to this video by clicking the settings wheel icon in the bottom right-hand corner.

Remember that each patient and each treatment plan is different. Your experience may be longer or shorter depending on your diagnosis, and you may or may not be given tattoos on your body to help line you up in the right position.

Some departments use software known surface guided radiotherapy (SGRT) where patients do not need tattoos to help their team line them up for their radiotherapy treatment.

Here we have tried to give an overview of some common experiences. But every patient has a unique experience of treatment and side effects. For example, patients with different skin tones can see a wide range of changes in the colour of their skin during and after treatment. There are some examples given in this video, but you may see something different. If in doubt, ask your treatment team!

Ask your therapeutic radiographer team lots of questions. You might also meet some student radiographers during your treatment.

The video notes that you could feel cold during treatment. If you have had chemotherapy you might be more sensitive to temperature changes in general.

If you have EBRT after surgery, you can sometimes feel more uncomfortable when your arms are above your head for radiotherapy.

This video was created by Radiotherapy UK for our PIF-TICK accredited Patients and Families hub, launching in 2024. The 3-D virtual reality footage is thanks to Vertual Ltd, which has chosen Radiotherapy UK as its Charity of the Year.

Visit https://radiotherapy.org.uk or https://vertual.co.uk/ to learn more.