what questions to ask oncologist on first visit

Who will exist treating me?

YOUR Intendance Team

A team of highly trained medical professionals will be involved in your care during radiation therapy. This team is led by a radiations oncologist, a doctor who specializes in using radiation to care for cancer.

Radiation Oncologists

Radiation oncologists are the doctors who will oversee your radiation therapy treatments. These physicians piece of work with the other members of the radiations therapy team to develop and prescribe your treatment plan and make sure that each treatment is given accurately. Your radiations oncologist will also rails your progress and adjust the handling as necessary to make sure you receive the best care. Radiation oncologists help identify and treat whatsoever side effects that may occur due to radiations therapy. They piece of work closely with other cancer doctors, including medical oncologists and surgeons, and all members of the radiation oncology team.

Radiation oncologists are the only physicians with the expertise and preparation to deliver radiation therapy treatments. In addition to college and medical schoolhouse, v years of additional training are required for radiations oncologists. They receive all-encompassing grooming in cancer medicine, in the use of radiation to care for disease and in managing any side furnishings caused by radiation.  In one case they pass an examination by the American Board of Radiology, radiation oncologists are board certified.

Radiations Therapists

Radiations therapists work with radiations oncologists to give the daily radiations treatment nether the doctor'southward prescription and supervision. They maintain daily records and regularly cheque the treatment machines to brand sure they are working properly.

Radiations Oncology Nurses

Radiations oncology nurses work with every member of the treatment team to intendance for yous and your family before, during and after treatment. They will explicate the possible side effects you may experience and will draw how you can manage them. They will appraise how you are doing throughout treatment and will help yous cope with the changes you are experiencing.

Medical Physicists

Medical physicists work directly with the radiation oncologist during treatment planning and delivery. They oversee the piece of work of the dosimetrist and assistance ensure that circuitous treatments are properly tailored for each patient.

Medical physicists develop and direct quality command programs for equipment and procedures. They are trained with avant-garde degrees and accordingly credentialed to provide this important service. These professionals brand sure the equipment works properly past taking precise measurements of the radiations beam and performing other safety tests on a regular basis.

Dosimetrists

Dosimetrists work with the radiations oncologist and medical physicist to carefully calculate the dose of radiation to make sure the tumor gets the prescribed amount.  Using computers, they develop an optimized treatment plan that can best destroy the tumor while sparing the salubrious tissue.

Other members of the treatment team may include social workers, nutritionists, patient navigators, radiation engineers, physical therapists, radiation information managers, dentists and clerical staff . In cases where radiation is used in combination with chemotherapy or surgery, a coordinated multidisciplinary team often extends beyond the radiation handling team to include health care professionals from medical oncology and surgery.

What happens earlier, during and after treatment?

Once a diagnosis has been made, you will probably talk with your primary care doc along with several cancer specialists, such equally a surgeon, a medical oncologist and a radiation oncologist. Yous will desire to inquire these doctors about all your treatment options. In many cases, just not all cases, your cancer will demand to be treated by using more than one type of handling.

If information technology is determined that you would do good from radiation oncology, your radiation oncologist will review whatever scans that take been ordered, including CT scans, MRI scans and PET scans, and complete a thorough exam. He or she will then hash out with you the potential benefits and risks of radiation therapy and reply your questions.

BEFORE RADIATION Handling

During your commencement visit, your radiation oncologist will evaluate your need for radiation therapy and its likely results. This includes reviewing your current medical problems, past medical history, past surgical history, family unit history,medications, allergies and lifestyle. The doc will besides perform a physical exam to assess the extent of your disease and judge your full general physical status. You may too be seen past a medical educatee, a resident (radiation oncologist in preparation), a nurse practitioner, a medico'southward assistant or a nurse.

Simulation

To be about effective, radiation therapy must be aimed precisely at the aforementioned target or targets each and every time treatment is given. The process of measuring your body and marking your skin to help your team direct the beams of radiations safely and exactly to their intended locations is called simulation. During simulation, your radiation oncologist and radiation therapist identify you lot on the simulation machine in the verbal position you will be in during the actual treatment. Your radiation therapist, nether your doctor's supervision, then marks the area to be treated direct on your pare or on immobilization devices. Immobilization devices are molds, casts, headrests or other devices that aid y'all remain in the same position during the unabridged handling. The radiations therapist marks the immobilization devices and/or your pare with either a brilliant, temporary pigment or a prepare of pocket-size, permanent tattoos. Oftentimes, a special treatment planning CT scan is done to help with the simulation and handling planning. This CT browse is in addition to your diagnostic CT scan. Your radiation oncologist may asking that special blocks or shields be made for you. These blocks or shields are put in the external beam therapy automobile before each of your treatments and are used to shape the radiation to your tumor and go along the rays from normal tissue. Multi-leaf collimators, shaping devices located in the head of the linear accelerator itself, may too be used to shape the beam and attain safety commitment of your radiation treatment.

Treatment Planning

Once you have finished simulation, your radiation oncologist and other members of the handling team review data obtained during simulation along with your previous medical tests to develop a handling plan. A sophisticated handling-planning computer and associated software may be used to assist pattern the best possible handling programme. Subsequently reviewing all of this information, your doctor volition write a prescription that outlines exactly how much radiations you will receive and to what parts of your body.

Quality Assurance Before Treatment

Once your md approves the radiation therapy plan in treatment planning the members of the radiations treatment squad work together to ensure that your specific treatment programme works correctly on the linear accelerator before treatment begins. A 'dry out run' is oftentimes completed for more complex treatments past a medical physicist to ensure that the radiation treatment designed for you is every bit authentic and as safety every bit possible.

DURING EXTERNAL BEAM RADIATION THERAPY TREATMENTS

When you undergo external beam radiation therapy handling, each session is painless, but similar getting an Ten-ray. The radiation is directed at your tumor from a automobile located abroad from your body, normally a linear accelerator. External beam radiation is noninvasive, unlike surgery, which is an invasive procedure.  I of the benefits of radiations therapy is that it is usually given as a series of outpatient treatments (meaning you don't have to stay in the hospital). You may not demand to miss work or experience the type of recuperation catamenia that may follow other treatments. The radiation therapist will requite you your external beam treatment following your radiation oncologist's instructions.

It will take v to xv minutes for you to be positioned for treatment and for the equipment to be ready up. If an immobilization device was made during simulation, it will be used during every treatment to make sure that you are in the verbal same position every twenty-four hours. Time spent in the treatment room may vary depending on the type of radiation, just it more often than not ranges from 10 to 40 minutes. Once you lot are positioned correctly, the therapist will get out the room and go into the control room side by side door to closely monitor you on a television screen while giving the radiations. There is a microphone in the treatment room and then you can always talk with the therapist if you take any concerns. The machine can be stopped at any time if y'all are feeling sick or uncomfortable.

The radiation therapist may move the treatment auto and treatment table to target the radiation beam to the verbal area of the tumor. The machine might make noises during treatment that audio like clicking, knocking or whirring, but the radiation therapist is in complete command of the machine at all times.  Your radiation oncologist monitors your daily handling and may change your radiation dose based on these observations.  Besides, your doctor may order blood tests, X-rays and other tests to run into how your body is responding to handling. If the tumor shrinks significantly, some other simulation may be required. This allows your radiation oncologist to modify the treatment to destroy the rest of the tumor and spare even more than normal tissue.

Sometimes a grade of handling may need to exist interrupted for a day or more. This may happen if you develop side effects that require a break in handling. These missed treatments may be fabricated up by adding treatments at the end. Still, it is best to try to make it on time and non miss whatsoever of your appointments. Treatments are commonly scheduled five days a week, Monday through Friday, and continue for one to 10 weeks. The number of radiations treatments you will need depends on the size, location and type of cancer you lot have, the intent of the treatment, your general wellness, and other medical treatments you may exist receiving.

A portion of your external radiation therapy may be directed at the tumor and surrounding tissues at take chances for harboring microscopic cancer cells. This might exist followed by shrinkage of the book of tissue treated to the tumor expanse itself, since this surface area may require a higher dose to eliminate the cancer cells. This is chosen a boost.

In some cases, a patient may receive chemotherapy and radiation therapy at the same fourth dimension. The chemotherapy may be delivered weekly, every three weeks or at some schedule adamant past the medical oncologist together with the radiation oncologist. The chemotherapy may piece of work to assist sensitize the cancer cells in the target area to the radiation therapy and may also travel elsewhere in the torso to help destroy or reduce microscopic cancer cells. Your treatment team volition aid coordinate these therapies and care for potential side effects.

Weekly Checkups

During radiations therapy, your radiation oncologist and nurse will run into y'all regularly to follow your progress, evaluate whether yous are having whatsoever side furnishings, recommend treatments for those side furnishings (such as medication) and address any concerns you may have. Your dr. may also make changes in the schedule or treatment plan depending on your response or reaction to the therapy. Your radiation oncology team may get together on a regular ground with other health care professionals to review your example to ensure your treatment is proceeding every bit planned. During these sessions, all the members of the team hash out your progress and whatsoever concerns.

Quality Balls During Treatment

During your class of treatment, right positions of the treatment beams will exist regularly verified with images made using the handling beam itself. These images (called port films, axle films or portal verification) represent an important quality assurance check just exercise not evaluate the tumor itself.  Depending upon what kind of treatment y'all receive and what your medico thinks will piece of work all-time, the type of images used (due east.1000., 10-ray, CT scan, ultrasound, etc.) may vary. These images clinch your radiation oncologist that the treatment setup accurately matches the intended target.

Afterward TREATMENT FOLLOW-UP

Afterwards treatment is completed, follow-up appointments will be scheduled so that your radiation oncologist can brand certain your recovery is proceeding normally. Your radiation oncologist, in concert with other members of your team, may also order boosted diagnostic tests. Reports on your treatment may also be sent to the other doctors helping treat your cancer. Equally time goes past, the number of times you need to visit your radiation oncologist will decrease. However, y'all should know that your radiation oncology team will always be available should you lot demand to speak to someone about your treatment.

How should I care for myself during radiation therapy?

Get enough of remainder. Many patients experience fatigue during radiations therapy, so it is important to make sure you are well rested. If possible, ask friends and family to help out during treatment by running errands and preparing meals.

This volition aid you get the rest y'all need to focus on fighting your cancer. If you need more than help, ask your social worker or nurse to give y'all information on a local cancer support group or other resources. Volunteers may exist able to help.

Fifty-fifty though it is important to recognize when yous might need some rest, at that place is expert evidence to advise that some concrete activity during treatment can help decrease the fatigue. For instance, many patients experience a daily walk helps decrease some of their treatment-related fatigue. Ask your radiation oncologist what the best form of daily exercise might be for you.

Follow your dr.'south orders. In many cases, your doctor volition ask y'all to call if you develop a fever of 101.0 F or college. Be sure to read your instructions equally far equally caring for yourself during treatment.

Eat a balanced, nutritious diet. A nutritionist, nurse or doc may work with you to brand certain y'all are eating the correct foods to become the vitamins and minerals yous need. With certain types of radiation, you may demand to change your diet to minimize side effects. You should not attempt to lose weight during radiation therapy since you need more calories due to your cancer and treatment.

Stay hydrated. In some cases, yous may be at risk of condign dehydrated during handling. Helpful fluids may include flat soda, Jell-O, juice, sorbet, broth and water. Discuss with your doctor what strategies will work best.

Treat skin exposed to radiation with extra care. The skin in the expanse receiving handling may go red and sensitive, similar to a sunburn. Your radiations oncology nurse volition review specific instructions for caring for your skin with you lot. Some guidelines include:

• Make clean the peel daily with warm h2o and a mild lather recommended by your nurse.
• Avoid using whatever lotions, perfumes, deodorants or powders in the handling area unless canonical by your doctor or nurse. Avoid products containing alcohol, which may dry your pare.
• Avoid putting anything hot or cold on the treated skin. This includes heating pads and ice packs.
• Stay out of the lord's day. If you must be outdoors, vesture a chapeau or clothing to protect your skin. After treatment, use sunscreen with an SPF of at to the lowest degree 30 or higher.

Seek out support. In that location are many emotional demands on you lot during your cancer diagnosis and treatment. Information technology is common to feel anxious, depressed, afraid or hopeless. It may assist to talk about your feelings. To find a support group in your expanse, ask your radiations oncology nurse. There are many groups that run across in person, over the phone or on the Internet.

Some support organizations can even help you manage fiscal problems, such every bit insurance and co-pays.

Treatment Facilities

University of Washington Medical Middle Montlake – Radiation Oncology Center

1959 NE Pacific Street
Seattle, WA 98195

Locate on Google Maps

UW Medicine Northwest Hospital & Medical Centre — SCCA Radiation Oncology Services

1570 North 115th Street
Seattle, WA 98133

Locate on Google Maps

UW Medicine Harborview Medical Center – Gamma Knife Center

325 9th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98104

Locate on Google Maps

Seattle Cancer Intendance Alliance (SCCA) – South Lake Union

1354 Aloha Street
Seattle, WA 98109

Locate on Google Maps

VA of Puget Sound Health Care System (Veteran's Administration)

1660 S Columbian Way
Seattle, WA 98108

Locate on Google Maps

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Source: https://radiationoncology.uw.edu/radiation-treatment/your-first-visit/

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