Radiation Therapy: What to Expect
What to expect from radiation treatments
Peer Review Status: Internally Reviewed by Cancer Center Staff
Creation Date: October 2002
Last Review Date: November 2006
Courses of radiation treatments are usually five days a week for six to seven weeks. (If the goal of treatment is palliative (to control symptoms) the course will be 2-3 weeks in length). Using many small doses (fractions) for daily radiation, rather than a few large doses, helps protect the healthy cells in the treatment area. The break from the treatment on weekends allows the normal cells to recover.
Completing the entire course of radiation therapy is extremely important. It is important not to miss or delay treatments because it can lessen how well the radiation kills tumor cells.
The radiation therapy technologist (RTT) may ask you to change into a gown before treatment. It is a good idea to wear clothing that is easy to pull down or adjust, or remove, when coming for treatments.
During the actual treatment sessions, you will be in the treatment room between 10-30 minutes. You will be receiving radiation for 1-2 minutes of that time.
You will be asked to lie on a hard, moveable bed. The RTT will use the marks on your skin to exactly position the machine and table. In some instances, special blocks or shields are used to protect normal organs. You may be positioned using special holders, molds or boards.
It is extremely important you remain still during the radiation treatments. Breathe normally during treatments. It is not necessary to hold your breath. You will not feel anything during the treatment. Radiation is painless. You will not see, hear or smell radiation.
The RTT will leave the room. You will be alone in the room, but there is a closed circuit TV and an intercom in the room. The RTT can see and hear you at all times. If you think you need to move, tell the therapist at once. The machine can be turned off.
The radiation machine is quite large. The machine can move around you. It will make noises. The RTT can control the movement of the machine from outside the room. The therapist will be checking the machine at all times. A physicist checks the accuracy of the machine often.
You may possibly have several types of tests or checks during your treatment course. Port films (an x-ray taken by the treatment machine) are taken to make sure that positioning is exactly where it should be. Some types of radiation treatment areas will require weekly blood tests to check the blood cell counts.
The radiation oncologist will meet with you about once a week. This visit is to check on how your body has been reacting to treatment. Bring any symptoms you may be having to the doctorÕs attention.
To learn more about the education/qualifications of these team
members, contact the Cancer Information Service at: cancer-information@uiowa.edu.
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