Treatment Process

During your consult with the radiation oncology team, we will evaluate your condition and review treatment options with you. We can work with the rest of your care team to ensure you understand what options are available to you. We will review the specifics of how radiation treatment can help you and review the logistics and side effects of treatment to help you make an informed decision about radiation.

Once a decision is made to move forward with radiation, we will schedule a special appointment called a computed tomography (CT) simulation. During this appointment you will have a CT scan that we will use to create a customized radiation plan for you. After the CT scan we may put marks on your skin to help position you for treatments. In total, this session will last 30 to 60 minutes. Radiation will begin approximately 1 to 2 weeks after this appointment and these appointments are scheduled during the CT scan.

Plan to arrive at your scheduled appointment time on your first day of radiation. When it is time for your treatment, our team will bring you to the treatment room. Depending on what part of your body we are treating, we may ask that you change into a gown. You will then be asked to lie on the table while our technicians position you. Once you are in the correct position, we ask that you lie still until the treatment is completed. When the treatment begins, the radiation machine will move but nothing will touch you. The treatment is painless and lasts a few minutes. You do not need to be monitored after the treatment and can return home as soon as the treatment is finished.