Plain answers to the questions people most often ask before their first appointment. None of this replaces the conversation you will have with your radiation oncologist, who will tell you what applies in your case.
What is radiation therapy?
Radiation therapy uses carefully targeted high-energy X-rays or particles to damage cancer cells so they stop dividing and die, while sparing the healthy tissue around them as much as possible. It is planned on a CT scan of you, delivered by a machine that never touches you, and checked at every step by your radiation oncologist and a team of physicists, dosimetrists and therapists. Depending on your situation it may be used on its own, alongside surgery or chemotherapy, or to relieve symptoms. Read about external beam radiation and IMRT and SBRT and SRS for the main forms we deliver.
Does it hurt?
No. The treatment itself is painless. You lie still on the treatment table, the machine moves around you, and you feel nothing during the delivery, much like having an X-ray taken. Side effects can develop over the course of treatment and depend on the part of the body being treated. Your doctor will tell you which ones are likely for you, and your care team checks on you regularly so they are managed as they appear rather than after.
How long does a treatment session take?
Usually 10 to 20 minutes in the treatment room, and most of that is setup: getting you into exactly the same position as your planning scan and checking it with imaging. The radiation itself is delivered in a few minutes. Allow extra time on your first day of treatment, which is longer than the rest.
How many sessions will I need?
It varies by treatment. Some courses are a single session, some are a handful over one or two weeks, and some are given on weekdays over several weeks. The number depends on what is being treated, where it is, and the technique your doctor recommends. Your doctor will tell you your schedule before treatment starts, and the whole course is usually at roughly the same time each day so you can plan around it.
Will I be radioactive?
Not with external beam radiation, which is the form most people receive. The radiation comes from a machine, passes through you and is gone. Nothing stays in your body, and it is safe to be around children, pregnant women and anyone else as soon as you leave the room. A small number of treatments place a radioactive source inside the body, and for those your doctor will explain any precautions before you agree to treatment.
Do I need a referral?
You do not need a referral to call us, ask a question or request a consultation. Most people do arrive with a referral from an oncologist, surgeon or urologist, and some insurance plans require one before they will cover a visit or treatment. We help coordinate that with your referring physician so it does not fall to you. See Insurance & Billing for what to check with your plan.
Can I drive myself to treatment?
Most people do. External beam treatment does not involve sedation, and the sessions are short. Tiredness can build up over a longer course, so if you start to feel that you would rather not drive, arranging a lift for the later weeks is sensible. If your treatment involves any medication or sedation, your doctor will tell you in advance whether you need someone to drive you.
What should I bring to my first appointment?
Photo ID, your insurance card, a list of your medications, any pathology and imaging reports you have been given, records from the other doctors involved in your care, and your questions written down. Someone to come with you is the most useful thing of all. The full list is on Patient Forms, and New Patients explains how the first visit runs.
What happens at the first appointment?
The first appointment is a consultation, not a treatment. Your radiation oncologist goes through your diagnosis, your scans and any treatment you have already had, examines you, and tells you honestly whether radiation would help, what it would involve and what side effects to expect. If radiation is agreed on, a separate planning scan follows and your plan is built and checked before anything is delivered. Nobody is treated on the day they first walk in.
Does insurance cover radiation therapy?
Radiation therapy is a standard, widely covered cancer treatment, and we accept most insurance, with Medicare welcome. What you pay depends on your plan, your deductible and whether your particular plan is in-network with us, which is worth confirming before your first visit. Our team can help with questions about coverage. Read Insurance & Billing for the details.