First Radiation Treatment

Radiation therapy refers to the therapeutic application of radiation as part of cancer treatment. It is a painless and fast procedure using sophisticated machines designed to impact as little of your healthy tissue as possible.  Most side effects are minimal, easily managed, and disappear a few weeks after treatment ends.

If your radiation oncologist — Dr. Jan Dombrowski or Dr. Sandra McDonald — has recommended radiation therapy, there are several steps that must be accomplished before the actual treatment series begins. The radiation staff at Pluta Cancer Center is committed to helping you every step of the way to make this as comfortable a process as possible.

Treatment Planning
Your first treatment plan appointment will be for a treatment planning CT scan (Computer Tomography). Simply, this is an x-ray machine that takes images, called slices, as if we were looking from your head to toes and the images were slices of bread. There are no restrictions regarding diet or medication prior to the scan and you won’t be given anything to drink or be injected with dye. The actual scan is painless and only takes about five minutes. 

CT scans for Pluta patients are done at Borg & Ide Imaging, which is located at 400 Red Creek Drive (right behind Pluta), Suite 140. Once you check in at Borg & Ide, you will meet Virginia or Lynn, Pluta Cancer Center medical dosimetrists. You will be escorted to the dressing room to change into a gown. In the CT room you will be positioned in the appropriate treatment position and some preliminary marks might be drawn on your skin. Lynn or Virginia will keep you informed throughout the process. The machine will start to scan, but you will feel nothing; just lie still and breathe normally unless told to hold your breath. When the scan is over, you will be free to leave for the day.

These images are used by your radiation oncologist and the physics team to design a radiation treatment plan that is as safe and accurate as possible. When the plan is complete, you will return to Pluta for your simulation with Barb. This procedure involves additional x-rays and measurements used to verify the plan. Part of this includes the placement of small x marks on your skin that are important in aligning daily treatments.

When the simulation is complete, your entire course of treatments will be scheduled, so be sure to bring your calendar with you.

The day before your first actual treatment, you will come to the Pluta Cancer Center for a final run-through on the treatment table.

Your radiation oncologist will review and adjust the plan before your first treatment.
 
Radiation Treatment
When you arrive for your first treatment, check in at the front desk and then take a seat. A radiation therapist –  Joe, Lori, Teresa or Liz – will then escort you to the dressing room where you will change into a gown (if required). You will then take a seat in a private waiting room until your treatment.

Your radiation therapists will explain every step of the process and answer any questions you may have. During the treatment itself, you will be continually monitored via audio and visual equipment. After your treatment the radiation therapists will assist you from the table and escort you to the changing room and then to the reception area.

Radiation treatments typically take just 15 minutes. You will be examined on a weekly basis by your radiation oncologist. Your nurse – Peggy or Jacquie – will see you every Monday to measure your vital signs.