Abstract
In 1895 the German physicist, Wilhelm Rontgen discovered electromagnetic radiation in a previously unknown wavelength. He later named this wavelength ‘X-ray’ (X referring to an unknown quantity). Since this discovery and through the hard work of many others, most prominently Pierre and Marie Curie and Alexander Graham Bell, radiotherapy has developed into an integral part of the treatment of cancer. Approximately 320 500 people were diagnosed with cancer in the UK in 2009, which equates to around 519 cases for every 100 000 people. Roughly one-half of all patients diagnosed with cancer will receive radiotherapy treatment at some point during their journey. The aim of this article is to provide a brief overview of the background of radiotherapy, some of the more frequently occurring side effects that GPs need to be aware of and the role of the GP in patients receiving radiotherapy treatment.
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