Your
Radiation Treatments
Date: August
2011
And I was
very nervous going into my initial consultation although I had done research
into what radiation therapy was all about.
What my treatments might have been like. I didn't know what, you know, what to
expect. But once I've got in there
and talked to the doctors, they made me feel so comfortable with what my
treatment plan was going to be, that you know, you have that confidence. Maybe at first I was nervous but towards
the end of the treatment itself it's just something that came naturally to
me.
What is
radiation therapy? How radiation
therapy treats cancer? Radiation
therapy focuses high energy radiation at the cancer growth. The radiation damages or destroys the
cancer cells so that they cannot continue to grow. To protect the normal cells of the
surrounding area, the radiation is carefully aimed at the tumor. Radiation treatments take place over a
period of time. Even though some
normal cells are exposed to the radiation, they will recover. The damage to normal cells is what
causes side effects. When cancer
cells are exposed to the radiation, they will be destroyed or damaged so
severely that they can no longer grow or divide. For more information, please feel free
to go to the side effects section.
How radiation therapy is given?
External beam radiation uses a linear accelerator to focus the high
energy radiation on the cancer.
With this type of radiation therapy, large areas of the body or more than
one area of the body can be treated.
Usually external beam radiation is given daily for several
weeks.
Taking
special care of yourself. Tips to make your
treatment work better.
Before you start your treatment, tell your doctor about any implantable
devices such as a pacemaker or defibrillator and all of the prescription and
over-the-counter medicines, vitamins or herbal supplements you take. During your treatment, do not take any
medicine or supplement without first telling your doctor, nurse or mid-level
provider. Get plenty of sleep and
rest during the day if you feel tired.
Nutrition is very important in helping you feel better and recover
faster. Try to prevent weight loss
by eating a balanced diet. Take
special care of your skin in the treatment area. See managing side effects. If you have any questions, ask a member
of your radiation team. Only they
can give you the correct information regarding your treatment, side effects,
home care or any other problems you may have. Check into support groups or special
classes for cancer patients at your treatment facility. Talking with others about having cancer
and sharing ideas for managing side effects can help you learn and recover more
quickly. Treatment planning and simulation. Planning radiation therapy is a very
complex process that may last several days. Your doctor will review your medical
history and test results. He or she
will then pinpoint the exact treatment area and decide on the type of radiation
that is best to treat your type of cancer.
This immobilization device is made to ensure exact positioning of head
and neck patients throughout the course of their treatment. The radiation therapist will first
position you on the table in preparation for making the mask. You'll be given instructions to relax
and to hold as still as possible.
The radiation therapist will then place the thermoplast mold into a warm water bath where it will become
soft and pliable in a few minutes.
The therapist will remove it from the bath and dry it off before gently
placing it over your face and shoulders.
The soft mask will be warm and moist and feel like you are getting a warm
facial. Breathe normally, relax and
hold still. The mask will be
secured to the head rest. The
radiation therapist will then mold the shell around your shoulders, neck and
facial features. Marking the treatment area, head and neck. In approximately three to five minutes,
the mask will cool and harden into the shape it was molded in. Continue to breathe normally with the
mask in place. Alignment lasers are
used to place marks on the mask so that you can be accurately positioned for
each treatment session. For
simulation, you will need to lie on an exam table while the radiation therapist
takes special x-rays to determine exactly where to aim the radiation. The amount of radiation that you will be
given is based on the size and type of the tumor. Marking the treatment
area, other areas. The
radiation therapist will mark the treatment area with tiny dots of special ink
to help aim the radiation beam.
Sometimes, the marks are made with tattoos. These marks will be used during your
entire treatment to make sure that the treatment is exactly the same each
time. Tell your radiation therapist
if they seem to be fading. After
simulation, the radiation oncologist will meet with the radiation physicist and
the medical dosimetrist to determine the kind of
radiation you need, the type of machine they will use and how many treatments
you will require. What happens
during treatment? You may need to
change into a hospital gown for treatment so it's a good idea to wear clothes
that are easy to take off and put on again. External radiation therapy is similar to
getting an x-ray. Although each
radiation treatment takes only a few minutes, each of your therapy sessions can
last up to 60 minutes because of the time it takes to position you and the
machine correctly. This
immobilization device is made to ensure exact positioning of head and neck
patients throughout the course of their treatment. The radiation therapist will help you
into the proper position on the table.
Special devices may be used to keep you in the correct position. You should lie very still during the
treatment and follow the instructions of your radiation therapist. The radiation therapist will leave the
room during the actual radiation treatment but he or she will be able to see and
communicate with you via monitor and intercom. The machines used for radiation therapy
will move around you to aim the radiation.
The radiation therapist is actually controlling the machine and making
sure that everything is working correctly.
Your radiation therapist can answer any questions you may have about what
goes on in the treatment room and if you feel ill or uncomfortable during your
treatment, the machine can be stopped.
You will not be radioactive following you external beam treatment
sessions.
© 2011 The University
of
1515
1-800-392-1611 (