Frequently Asked Questions
What is radiation therapy?
How does it work?
How is the radiation administered?
Is it safe?
Does external radiation therapy hurt?
Can radiation therapy be combined with other treatments?
How long can I expect to be on radiation therapy?
How often will I receive treatment?
How long will each treatment last?
What side effects should I expect?
Will I lose my hair?
Will my treatments make me radioactive?
Will visiting the Radiation Oncology Department expose me to radiation?
How will the team identify my treatment areas?
Why aren't my radiation treatments being given at the spot where I received the tattoo during my simulation?
What is IMRT?
What is radiation therapy?
Radiation therapy involves the safe and careful use of high-energy x-rays to treat cancer by destroying the cancer cells' ability to reproduce.
How does it work?
When radiation comes in contact with cells, it damages or kills them. Normal cells are able to repair their damage or generate new cells with relative ease, while cancer cells have difficulty repairing any injury. As a result of the injury, cancer cells have difficulty reproducing and eventually die. This makes them more sensitive to radiation treatments.
How is the radiation administered?
Radiation may be given internally or externally. For external treatment, called external beam radiation therapy, therapists use a specialized machine called a linear accelerator to direct a beam of high-energy radiation at the tumor site through the patient's skin. Internal treatment, known as brachytherapy, involves the actual implantation of a radioactive source (wires, seeds or rods) inside the patient, as close to the tumor as possible. Most patients are treated externally. Some may actually be treated with a combination of the two. Your radiation oncologist will determine which method is appropriate for you.
Is it safe?
Yes. Radiation therapy is a safe and effective treatment for patients of all ages. Although radiation therapy uses levels of energy many times higher than those used for x-ray exams, the radiation is administered in very precise doses to very specific sites where it will be most effective. Special shielding protects the surrounding tissue from exposure as much as possible. What's more, receiving external radiation treatments won't expose others to radiation either.
Does external radiation therapy hurt?
No. In fact, you won't feel a thing. You'll hear a buzzing and clicking sound when the radiation is being administered, but you won't feel the beams entering your body. You may experience some localized side effects after treatments have begun, but these will go away once your treatments are finished.
Can radiation therapy be combined with other treatments?
Yes. People with cancer may be treated with radiation alone or together with chemotherapy or surgery. For example, radiation therapy is sometimes used before surgery to shrink a tumor or afterward to stop the growth of any cancer cells that remain. In some cases, doctors use it along with chemotherapy to destroy the cancer. Other times, it's used not to cure the cancer but to relieve pain or other symptoms. Your radiation oncologist will determine the best course of treatment for your particular illness.
How long can I expect to be on radiation therapy?
The duration of treatments varies from a few days to six or more weeks, depending on the goal of the treatment. Weekly visits with your radiation oncologist will allow them to evaluate how you're doing in your treatment course and evaluate any side effects. Your radiation oncologist will keep you informed throughout the process, so you know what to expect.
How often will I receive treatment?
Individual treatment schedules vary depending on the kind of cancer, the goals of treatment and how a patient's body responds. Radiation therapy is usually administered daily, Monday through Friday, with a "rest" over the weekends.
How long will each treatment last?
The length of each individual treatment varies from one person to the next. Generally, the treatments themselves last just a few minutes. However, you should plan to spend at least 15-30 minutes at the center each time you visit. This will allow time for changing into a hospital gown if needed, proper positioning on the treatment table and changing back into your street clothes when you're done.
What side effects should I expect?
Side effects vary from person to person and are dependent upon the area of the body which receives the radiation treatment. If you experience side effects, they will appear a few weeks after treatment begins and disappear within a few weeks of your last radiation treatment. You will receive information on potential side effects from your radiation oncologist before treatment begins.
Will I lose my hair?
Hair loss is possible with radiation therapy, but only in the area being treated. It also depends on the total radiation dose that an area receives. If you are not receiving radiation therapy on your head, you won't lose any hair from your scalp.
Will my treatments make me radioactive?
External radiation therapy does not make you radioactive, so you don't have to worry about limiting your contact with others. However, if you are receiving brachytherapy (internal treatment), you will need to take certain precautions based on whether the radioactive implant is temporary or permanent. Your radiation oncologist will give you a list of precautions to follow based on the specific type of radiation therapy you receive.
Will visiting the Radiation Oncology Department expose me to radiation?
No. The treatment areas within our Radiation Oncology Department are specially constructed and certified to ensure patient and staff safety from radiation. Your only exposure to radiation will occur during treatments, and then only to your specific tumor site(s).
How will the team identify my treatment areas?
To facilitate daily positioning for your treatments, small, permanent tattoo marks will be placed on your skin. The therapist will use these marks each day to reproduce the positioning used during your initial simulation and ensure proper treatment delivery.
Why aren't my radiation treatments being given at the spot where I received the tattoo during my simulation?
That tattoo wasn't meant to mark the spot where treatments will be given. It was meant as a reference point instead. By comparing the distances and angles between the tattoo and the treatment site on the images we took during the simulation with the same angles and distances on your body, we can line up our equipment just right to ensure the best results.
What is IMRT?
IMRT is a form of radiation therapy that uses special computer software to shape the individual beams of radiation being delivered during treatment to conform more closely to the dimensions of the tumor. This is particularly helpful in more complex cases, including disease involving the head and neck, as well as certain prostate cancers. For more information, see Treatment Options.