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Radiation Therapy Treatment Process
- Consultation
- Simulation
- First treatment
- Daily treatment
- Follow-up
Consultation
When you arrive at our Department of Radiation Oncology, you will be greeted
by our receptionist. She will present one of our physicians with any films
or reports that you may have brought with you. She will also guide you to the
consultation room.
In the consultation room, our
physician will spend all the time necessary (usually
between 1- 1.5 hours) to make sure that the rational, logistics, benefits,
and potential side effects of the prescribed radiation therapy are thoroughly
discussed. The primary goal of this consultation is to make sure that all
of your questions are answered fully. Therefore,
a copious amount of time will
be spent addressing specific issues or problems that you may have.
After this initial dialogue, our physician will
give you a tour of our department. You will see the
treatment planning machine (simulator) as well as
the actual treatment machine (linear accelerator)
that will be used deliver the daily dose of radiation.
Lastly, our physician will examine you. Once the
exam is completed, you will be given an appointment
for a “treatment planning session” or
simulation.
Simulation
Simulation is the procedure required to accurately deliver radiation to the
requisite tissue. It is a time used to customize the radiation fields to
ensure conformal coverage of the requisite tumor. This is typically performed
under the guidance of a CT scanner which allows a direct visualization of
the tumor or tumor resection cavity. A therapist will position you in a comfortable
position and may also make immobilization devices to minimize movement. This
session will typically last for 1 hour. After the mapping if completed, a
few small permanent tattoo marks may be placed on skin. The entire procedure
is painless.
After simulation, our therapist will also construct
a treatment schedule specifying the times and dates
of daily treatments.
Daily Treatments
Typically, our department treats patients from 7:00 am to 4:30 pm. Each treatment
will last 20 minutes. Before treatments, verification films may be taken to
confirm your positioning and our treatment beam configuration. You may hear
and see the radiation machine move around you during your treatment. This is
completely normal. Once again, the treatments will be painless.
At least once a week, you will meet with your physician
to discuss any side effects or questions that you
may have. You will also meet with our nurses on a
regular basis. A dietician will also be available
to advise you about specific dietary issues.
Follow-Up
Congratulations! You have finished your radiation treatments. Your radiation
oncologist will continue to see you on a regular basis. Typically, the first
follow-up appointment is at a 1 month interim. Subsequently, the frequency
of visits will be determined by your radiation oncologist. Most importantly,
our staff will always be available at any time to meet with you if you should
any issues arise.
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