What to expect during treatment

Typically, you receive radiation therapy on an outpatient basis. The first visit takes about an hour, because there is a lot of preparation involved. Each subsequent visit takes about 15 to 30 minutes. After the treatment, you can go back home and resume normal activities.

Our team of experienced medical professionals will design unique treatment plans for each patient. That plan could include treatments with the linear accelerator or with other advanced radiation therapy equipment like the Nucletron Micro Selectron HDR Brachytherapy Unit.

Initial visit — The patient meets with a radiation oncologist to discuss treatment options.

Positioning — Our team will work with you to find a comfortable position for you during treatment. It's important that you lie still during treatment, so finding a comfortable position is vital. The radiation therapist will then fit the patient with an immobilization device thermoplastic mask, which softens in warm water and forms a rigid yet comfortable “cast” of the patient’s anatomical contours as it cools and hardens.

Imaging — The patient lies on a CT- Simulator scan couch and undergoes an imaging procedure to create a treatment plan and ensure correct positioning.

Treatment planning — Using a sophisticated computer program, the team designs a customized treatment plan, based on information gathered during positioning and imaging.

Treatment delivery — The patient lies on a treatment couch while the machine moves around the bed and painlessly delivers invisible radiation. Sometimes the couch moves, too. The patient is alone in the room but the radiation therapist is right outside, available to observe and talk with the patient during treatment.

Follow-up — The treatment team monitors the patient’s progress with imaging tests, X-rays and blood tests. They work closely with the patients referring to the physician to manage the necessary care.