What Can You Expect?

Radiation treatment is a complex process, and every course is customized to meet your specific needs. Because of this level of customization and planning, your questions can be most accurately answered in person when we meet with you.

In general, however, there are six steps you can expect. Just keep in mind, certain steps may be combined, skipped, or completed several days apart (depending on the amount of work involved). 

1. Consultation

   You will meet with a nurse practitioner or oncology nurse as well as a physician to discuss if radiation treatment is necessary and what is involved. If it is, we will begin discussing the best time to start. 

2. Initial Simulation

   Positioning x-rays and/or scans will help us map out your customized treatment plan. Marks are placed on your skin to help line you up each day for treatment. Often, a CT scan is done to help with the planning process.

3. Planning Days

   Treatment planning is “behind the scenes” work that doesn’t require you to be at the Cancer Center. Typically, this planning process takes anywhere from a day or two up to a week. Using the latest computer technology, we determine how best to administer your treatment.

4. Confirmation Simulation

   We finalize your setup and marks based on the computerized plan that we developed during the planning stage.

5. Trial Run

   This is simply a test to make sure that our plan is set up correctly. Often, this is done at the same time as step #4.

6. Treatment Begins

   We typically begin treatment within a week of your initial consultation. However, this can vary significantly from patient to patient. This will be discussed with you during your consultation.