Some questions you can ask
- How does radiation work?
- What type of radiation will I receive?
- Where will I receive treatment?
- How long will the sessions take?
- How many treatments will I need?
- How flexible is the radiation schedule?
- Can I work while receiving radiation?
- What are the possible side effects?
- Will the side effects impact my life?
- How can I best manage the side effects?
- How does radiation work?
- What type of radiation will I receive?
- Where will I receive treatment?
- How long will the sessions take?
- How many treatments will I need?
- How flexible is the radiation schedule?
- Can I work while receiving radiation?
- What are the possible side effects?
How worried should we be about radiation?
- A single exposure of 10,000 millisieverts is enough to cause death from acute radiation sickness.
- 2,000 millisieverts can cause severe radiation poisoning.
- 100 millisieverts is the lowest yearly dose that’s been linked to an increased risk of cancer.
- 50 millisieverts is the maximum allowable occupational dose per year for workers in the USA.
What you should know about radiation?
Signing the document means:
- Your team gave you information about your treatment options.
- You choose to have radiation therapy.
- You give permission for the health care professionals to deliver the treatment.
- You understand the treatment is not guaranteed to give the intended results.
What questions to ask radiologist?
- Work together with your technology team to determine how you can integrate patient-forward initiatives into your existing EHR.
- Connect with other departments and borrow from existing models within your health system to integrate technological improvements to patient care.
- Don’t be afraid of change. ...
What do you need to know about radiation effects?
What Are Other Possible Early Side Effects From Radiation Therapy?
- Try eating five or six small meals spread out through the day instead of three large ones.
- Try new recipes or foods.
- Keep healthy snacks on hand. It will help you eat when you're hungry rather than waiting for mealtimes and maybe losing your appetite.
What can you not do during radiation treatment?
Avoid raw vegetables and fruits, and other hard, dry foods such as chips or pretzels. It's also best to avoid salty, spicy or acidic foods if you are experiencing these symptoms. Your care team can recommend nutrient-based oral care solutions if you are experiencing mucositis or mouth sores caused by cancer treatment.
What can I expect from radiation consultation?
This is a meeting with you, your radiation oncologist and other members of the radiation team. Usually, your treatment planning will involve taking detailed images of your body and making precise marks in the areas that will receive the radiation beams.
What should you not do before radiation?
Ask your radiation therapy team before you use anything on the skin in the treatment area. Powders, creams, perfumes, deodorants, body oils, ointments or lotions can irritate skin or may affect your response to the radiation treatment.
What should I do before my first radiation treatment?
BEFORE RADIATION TREATMENT During your first visit, your radiation oncologist will evaluate your need for radiation therapy and its likely results. This includes reviewing your current medical problems, past medical history, past surgical history, family history,medications, allergies and lifestyle.
How many sessions of radiotherapy is normal?
Most people have 5 treatments each week (1 treatment a day from Monday to Friday, with a break at the weekend). But sometimes treatment may be given more than once a day or over the weekend.
How long does a radiation session take?
In most instances, treatments are usually spread out over several weeks to allow your healthy cells to recover in between radiation therapy sessions. Expect each treatment session to last approximately 10 to 30 minutes.
How do you prepare your body for radiation?
During radiation, it's important to eat well....Listen To What Your Body Is Telling You. Most patients experience little or no side effects during cancer treatment, while some experience any of a number of side effects. ... Be Prepared – Stock Up On Healthy Foods. ... Eat Nutrient-Dense Meals. ... Break The Rules. ... Drink Plenty Of Liquids.
What time of day is best for radiation therapy?
New research from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, to be presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2019 in Atlanta, reports that administering radiation treatments in the morning as opposed to later in the day can significantly reduce severity of mucositis and its related ...
How do you stay calm during radiation?
Palmison's four tactics to find your peaceful center during radiation therapy.Just breathe. Calm, even breathing sends a message to your body that it's OK to come off of red-alert. ... Stay active. ... Follow your muse. ... Embrace an indulgence.
How many days a week is radiation therapy?
Most patients get radiation treatments daily, 5 days a week (Monday through Friday) for 5 to 8 weeks. Weekend rest breaks allow time for normal cells to recover.
Do you feel sick after first radiation treatment?
You may feel sick (nauseated), with or without vomiting, for several hours after each treatment. Your radiation oncologist may prescribe medicine (antiemetic) to take at home before and after each session to prevent nausea.
Can I drive myself to radiation treatments?
Unless you feel ill, you can typically drive yourself to treatment. In fact, many patients are able to work full-time during their treatment.
Do I need to bring someone with me for each treatment?
Unless you feel ill, you can typically drive yourself to treatment. In fact, many patients are able to work full-time during their treatment.
When will I start experiencing side effects?
Side effects depend on where you receive the radiation therapy, the dose given, whether you also receive chemotherapy and, if so, how much and what...
Will I lose my hair?
While chemotherapy causes hair loss throughout the body, that’s not the case for radiation therapy. Hair loss is associated with the radiation beam...
Am I radioactive?
You’re radioactive only if you’re undergoing treatment with a radiation seed implant. If you are hospitalized for this procedure, you’ll be in a pr...
Will I glow in the dark?
No. Even with permanent radiative seed implants, patients do not glow.
Can I be around children and pregnant women?
Yes -- unless you have just received a permanent radioactive seed implant. If that’s the case, you’ll only have the implant for a few days and shou...
Will I get a different cancer in the area where I’m receiving radiation?
The risk of developing a second cancer due to radiation therapy is very low. The benefits of your recommended treatment far outweigh the small risk...
Can I receive radiation in the same area if I have a cancer recurrence or secondary cancer?
With our newer technologies, we are able to carefully re-irradiate the same area in some situations. This is something you should discuss with your...
Will I feel the radiation treatment?
No, radiation therapy uses high-energy waves, like those used with an X-ray. They are invisible and painless.
Questions
Do I need someone to bring me in and pick me up after the radiation treatments?
Alternative Names
What to ask your doctor about radiation therapy; Radiotherapy - ask your doctor
How radiation therapy works
Has your doctor recommended radiation therapy? This treatment uses high-energy radiation to shrink tumors and kill cancer cells.
Some questions you can ask
Not sure what to ask your doctor about radiation? Find some suggestions below. You can bring a notebook with you to write down answers, or even enlist a loved one to come along and take notes.
How does radiation therapy work?
But radiation is inherently damaging to DNA. Radiation therapy actually works by damaging the genes (DNA) in cells. Genes control how cells grow and divide. When radiation damages the genes of cancer cells, they can’t grow and divide any more.
Can radiation kill cancer cells?
When radiation damages the genes of cancer cells, they can’t grow and divide any more. Over time, the cells die. This means radiation can be used to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors… or at least that was the theory. Radiologists know that DNA damage is one of the detrimental effects of ionizing radiation.
How long does radiation stay in the body?
These sources remain active in the body for many weeks (and longer in some cases), but the radiation emitted is so low that there is a negligible risk to others. However, to be extra cautious, patients are advised to avoid close contact with children and pregnant women for up to two months. 2.
What is radiation therapy?
External beam radiation therapy is the most common type of treatment and it delivers radiation from a source outside the body. Getting a recommendation for radiation therapy as part of cancer treatment comes with a learning curve – and a lot of questions. More than half of all patients with cancer receive radiation therapy at some point in their ...
What is the radiation oncology team at UT Southwestern?
Advances in stereotactic radiation therapy and technology are helping the Radiation Oncology team at UT Southwestern's Harold C. Simmons Cancer Center deliver more effective and less invasive treatments to patients. Nina Sanford, M.D., provides a behind-the-scenes look at the life-changing options.
What is external beam radiation therapy?
External beam radiation therapy is the most common type of treatment, and true to its name, it delivers radiation from a source outside the body. With this approach, you don’t need to worry about contact with family members or other people you encounter.
How long does it take for a skin reaction to heal after radiation?
For radiation treatments aimed at the skin or shallow areas, mild, temporary skin reactions are common, affecting up to 85% of patients, and typically resolve within a couple of weeks.
Does radiation kill cancer cells?
In most cases, no. Radiation therapy generates molecules called free radicals that kill cancer cells, and oxygen is required in this process. Because many vitamins and supplements include antioxidants, which limit the amount of oxygen in tissue and organs, they could potentially decrease radiation’s effectiveness.
Can vitamins be tested for effectiveness?
They are not tested for effectiveness or safety in the same way as medications or prescribed treatments. So, we can't fully predict how supplements and vitamins will interact with or reduce the effectiveness of prescribed treatments, including radiation therapy.
Questions for Your Doctor
It is important that you fully understand the potential benefits, side effects, and goals of radiation therapy. Your radiation oncologist and radiation oncology nurses are available to answer any questions you may have during treatment. They are the best source of accurate information about your particular case.
Questions to Ask After Treatment
What warning signs should I watch for that might indicate my cancer has returned?
Tips for Communicating with Your Care Team
Navigating a cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re inside the doctor’s office. There are steps you can take to prepare for each appointment. This will help you prioritize your own questions, concerns, and needs during every visit with your care team.
10 Cancer Questions for Your Medical Oncologist About Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, or Immunotherapy
Why are you recommending this treatment for me? Why is it preferable to others?
10 Cancer Questions for Your Surgeon or Surgical Oncologist
Why are you recommending this surgery for me? Why is this treatment preferable to others?
10 Cancer Questions to Ask the Radiation Oncologist
Why are you recommending this treatment for me? Why is it preferable to others?
