If your doctor thinks radiation therapy is indicated for you, consultation
is arranged with a radiation oncologist, a physician specializing in treating
cancer with radiation, to discuss the treatment thoroughly. Learn what
to expect going into radiation treatment by watching this video from the
American Society for Radiation Oncology.
First Visit
Unless your doctor has determined there is an immediate need to begin treatment,
your first appointment in the Radiation Oncology Department in the Valley
Health Cancer Center is for consultation only. We encourage you to complete our
new patient forms ahead of time and bring them to your appointment.
You will meet one of the nurses on your first visit. One of our radiation
oncologists will be in charge of your care and will get your medical history,
perform a physical exam and make recommendations regarding treatment.
In general, radiation treatments are given daily, Monday through Friday.
The radiation oncologist decides on the amount of radiation you receive.
The nurse is always available for questions or concerns but will visit
with you once a week while you are under treatment.
Simulation (Treatment Planning)
Simulation is the beginning step of starting your radiation treatment.
The radiation therapist carries out the simulation process under the supervision
of the radiation oncologist. The main goal is to assure that you will
be in the same exact position every day for your treatments.
Click here to learn more about the simulation process.
It is not always possible to do any simulation on your first visit. Treatment
planning also varies depending on the type of treatment you are having,
so it may take anywhere from three days to a couple of weeks to plan your
treatment.
New Patient Education
We offer a class to new patients before your first visit (or as soon as
possible after the first visit) to help you learn more about the department
and what to expect during treatment.
Click here to view the information covered during the class.
Treatment
Once you are positioned on the table in exactly the same position as you
were during your simulation, the radiation therapist will step out of
the room to take x-rays. This is to assure the radiation oncologist and
the therapist that we are treating exactly the same area of the body that
we planned to treat. The radiation oncologist will look at these images
before your first treatment. For quality assurance, we will take new x-rays
at least once a week, and sometimes every day, depending on the area being treated.
Once the doctor has approved the x-ray images, you will receive your treatment.
You will not feel anything during the treatment, and it is very important
that you lie as still as possible. The radiation therapist will not be
in the room during treatment but can see and hear you, and will come right
in if you have any problems.
Appointments
We try to work with patients as much as possible, but sometimes you may
not get the exact appointment time you want. If that time becomes available
while you are under treatment, we will be happy to switch your appointment
to that time. As a courtesy to other patients, it is very important that
you arrive on time for your appointment every day and be ready at your
scheduled time. If you need to change your appointment time or for any
reason are unable to make it to one of your treatments, please call and
let us know.
Side Effects
Your radiation oncologist or one of the radiation oncology nurses can help with any
side effects that you may experience. Please let the radiation therapist know at any
time if you have a problem so the nurse can be notified and meet with
you to address the issue.
Our Accreditation
We are accredited by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO)
through APEx – Accreditation Program for Excellence®. Facilities
accredited through APEx must demonstrate their safety and quality processes
and that they adhere to patient-centered care by promoting effective communication,
coordinated treatments and strong patient engagement. Learn more about
how accredited facilities such as ours use the process of accreditation
to benefit patients and find additional educational materials on radiation
therapy treatment here.
Additional Information
Varian’s empowerME program was designed to empower patients with
easily understandable, relevant information about radiation therapy, so
patients know what to expect and are more comfortable and confident going
into treatment. Click
here to learn more.
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