It is not unusual to feel anxious on the first day of treatment. We are here to answer your questions. We hope you will share your concerns with us. During treatment, you will lie down on the treatment table in the same position as your initial set-up. The radiation therapists will use the tattoos that were placed on your skin (or immobilization device) during the simulation to position you correctly. The therapists will then leave the room and go into an adjoining control room. Images are taken at the treatment machine on the first day and then reviewed and approved by your doctor prior to your first treatment. Weekly images are taken to ensure proper positioning. They do not show disease. Therapists constantly monitor you with audio visual technology while administering the radiation. You can communicate with the therapist if you have any concerns. Radiation therapy is usually given on a structured schedule over the course of several weeks or months. Most patients receive 4 or 5 treatments each week for several weeks. Although treatments are scheduled for 15 or 30 minutes, you will receive radiation for only a fraction of that time. Much of that time is spent on positioning. Patients do not feel anything during the radiation –treatment is painless.
Radiation works best when it is given in small doses over several sessions. In this way, it can destroy the tumor cells and yet allow sufficient time for the normal healthy cells around the tumor to repair any damage from the radiation.
Therapists are always available to answer questions. You will meet once each week with your nurse and radiation oncologist for assessment of your progress and for you to express any concerns. Please inform the radiation oncologist of any new symptoms if they arise. The side effects of the radiation depend on the exact type of tumor treated and the location of the radiation treatment.
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