What do I need to know about radiation therapy?
How radiation therapy may help. How successful he or she expects it to be. You'll also learn how to prepare for your radiation sessions. Your doctor will order a simulation session before your course of radiation treatment begins. Simulation will let you “go through the motions” of the radiation therapy experience.
What should I expect before starting radiation treatment?
You can expect these steps before beginning treatment: Meeting with your radiation oncologist. The doctor will review your medical records, perform a physical exam, and recommend tests. You will also learn about the potential risks and benefits of radiation therapy.
How can I take care of myself during radiation therapy?
Many people experience fatigue, sensitive skin at the site of radiation exposure, and emotional distress during radiation therapy. It is important to rest and take care of yourself during radiation therapy. Consider these ways to care of yourself: Plan for extra rest.
How do I talk to my doctor about immobilization therapy?
Talk with the team to find a comfortable and reproducible position for treatment. And tell them if you experience anxiety lying still in an immobilization device. Your doctor can prescribe medication to help you relax. After the simulation, your team will review your information and design a treatment plan.
Is radiation therapy the same as radiation oncology?
Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment that uses high-energy x-ray or other particles to destroy cancer cells. A doctor who specializes in giving radiation therapy to treat cancer is called a radiation oncologist.
What is r/t radiation?
Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) uses radiation (high-energy rays) to kill or shrink tumour cells.
What is treatment simulation?
Simulation is a critical preparation step before radiation treatment. It is performed at the simulation room equipped with a dedicated big-bore CT scanner. During the simulation, the treatment setup will be simulated by positioning the patient on the flat couch immobilized by specially designed devices.
What is the success rate of radiation therapy?
“In fact, based on the literature reviewed, it appears that external-beam radiation therapy is a superior treatment in some cases. “When patients are treated with modern external-beam radiation therapy, the overall cure rate was 93.3% with a metastasis-free survival rate at 5 years of 96.9%.
What is the normal amount of radiotherapy?
Typically, people have treatment sessions 5 times per week, Monday through Friday. This schedule usually continues for 3 to 9 weeks, depending on your personal treatment plan. This type of radiation therapy targets only the tumor. But it will affect some healthy tissue surrounding the tumor.
How long after simulation does radiation start?
How soon after the simulation will I start radiation therapy? Depending on the type of cancer being treated, your radiation therapy team will need 1 to 7 days after simulation to plan your treatment. For complex cases, more time is needed to minimize the radiation dose to vital healthy structures.
How much time does radiation therapy take?
Most people have external beam radiation therapy once a day, five days a week, Monday through Friday. Treatment lasts anywhere from 2 to 10 weeks, depending on the type of cancer you have and the goal of your treatment. This span of time is called a course of treatment.
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.
Una introduccion a la radioterapia de haz externo
Una introduccion a la radioterapia de haz externo Este video de 17 minutos le brinda una visión general de cómo se usa la radiación de haz externo para tratar el cáncer.
Radiation Therapy for Brain Tumors
Radiation Therapy for Brain Tumors This 10 ½-minute video shows you what to expect if you and your doctor choose to treat your brain tumor with radiation therapy. You will learn about how radiation therapy is used to treat brain tumors and what the pretreatment planning and treatment process looks like.
Radioterapia para cancer cerebral
Radioterapia para cancer cerebral Este video de 10 minutos y medio le demostrara qué esperar si usted y su médico eligen tratar su tumor cerebral con radioterapia. Aprenderá cómo se usa la radioterapia para tratar los tumores cerebrales y cómo se ve la planificación del pretratamiento y el proceso de tratamiento.
Radiation Therapy for Lower GI Cancers
Radiation Therapy for Lower GI Cancers This 12 ½-minute video shows you what to expect if you and your doctor choose radiation therapy to treat your lower GI cancer including cancers of the colon, rectum and anus. You will learn about the pretreatment planning and the treatment process.
What to expect when getting radiation therapy?
What to Expect When Having Radiation Therapy. It is normal to feel worried or overwhelmed when you learn that you will need radiation therapy. However, learning more about this type of cancer treatment may help you feel more prepared and comfortable.
How often should you check for radiation?
During your treatment, your radiation oncologist will check how well it is working. Typically, this will happen at least once a week. If needed, they may adjust your treatment plan.
What is simulation in radiation therapy?
Simulating and planning treatment. Your first radiation therapy session is a simulation. This means it is a practice run without giving radiation therapy. Your team will use imaging scans to identify the tumor location.
How long does radiation therapy last?
It is the most common radiation therapy treatment for cancer. Each session is quick, lasting about 15 minutes. Radiation does not hurt, sting, or burn when it enters the body.
Why is it important to be in the same position for radiation?
It is important for your body to be in the same position for each treatment. Your radiation oncology team cares about your comfort. Talk with the team to find a comfortable position that you can be in every time you come in for radiation therapy.
What is informed consent for radiation?
Giving permission for radiation therapy. If you choose to receive radiation therapy, your health care team will ask you to sign an "informed consent" form. Signing the document means: Your team gave you information about your treatment options. You choose to have radiation therapy.
How long does it take for radiation to go away?
The 2-day break in treatment each week allows your body some time to repair this damage. Some of the effects may not go away until the treatment period is completed. Let the health care professionals if you are experiencing side effects. Read more about the side effects of radiation therapy.
Radiation Therapy Side Effects
Some people experience side effects from radiation oncology treatment. Radiation along with chemotherapy can heighten side effects.
Contact the Radiation Oncology Program at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
To learn more about what to expect during radiation oncology treatment at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, please call us at 412-647-2811.