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.
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.
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