07/10/2025
Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer: My Top Tips
Around 70% of people with breast cancer will go on to have radiotherapy. If you’re about to start treatment, here are some of my top tips to help you get through it.
💧 Tip 1: Moisturise
Start moisturising the area that will receive radiotherapy three times a day, beginning a few weeks before treatment and continuing until about six weeks after you finish. Use a moisturiser your skin is already familiar with - this reduces the risk of irritation.
🌿 Tip 2: Deodorant
If you can, switch to a roll-on, aluminium-free deodorant. Spray deodorants tend to have a “fall-out zone,” meaning they can easily reach the radiotherapy area, while roll-ons give you more control. Since aluminium can make your skin more sensitive to treatment, it’s best to avoid it. If you’re unsure, it’s perfectly fine to skip deodorant on the days you have radiotherapy.
🧘♀️ Tip 3: Keep That Shoulder Moving
Do the exercises recommended by your physiotherapist, either those given specifically for radiotherapy or the ones from your surgery recovery.
Radiotherapy can cause tightness, especially around the shoulder joint, so regular stretching is key. Try to keep up your exercises for about three months after finishing treatment.
😴 Tip 4: Rest (No, Really!)
“Radiotherapy fatigue” is very real. It might not hit as hard as chemotherapy fatigue, but for some people, it can still be quite draining. Because radiotherapy often marks the end of “active” treatment, when you’re attending hospital regularly, it can be tempting to jump straight back into work and normal life. Give yourself permission to rest and recover. Take a few weeks to recharge, reflect on everything you’ve been through, and ease back into your routine gently.