Radiation therapy is one of the most common treatments for cancer.
More than half of the people with cancer get radiation as part of their care. It uses high-energy rays, like X-rays, to destroy or damage cancer cells. Radiation therapy may be used independently or combined with other cancer treatments. For example, radiation may be useful to shrink tumors before surgery to destroy any cancer cells left after surgery or to help control the symptoms when cancer is advanced.
Your cells normally grow and divide to form new cells. But cancer cells grow and divide faster than most normal cells. Therefore, the benefit of these high-energy particles or waves, such as X-rays, gamma rays, or electrons, is that they destroy or damage cancer cells.
Radiation therapy is usually a localized treatment that only affects the part of the body needing treatment. Radiation treatments are planned so that they damage cancer cells with as little harm as possible to nearby healthy cells.
The decision to use radiation therapy depends on the type and stage of cancer and other health problems a patient might have. Our radiation therapy professionals treat patients with personalized care and attention. Because they receive genuine, expert-level care, patients often feel at ease and overcome their initial fears. For these reasons, the Radiation Oncology team must develop an individualized treatment plan for each patient. For more information about these services, contact the Center for Cancer Care Radiation Oncology team at 740.393.5505.
The 3 Steps of Treatment
Radiation oncology is a medical specialty that uses radiation to treat cancer.
Radiation therapy carefully administers regulated doses of high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells.
If your provider has recommended radiation therapy, here is what you can expect:
Step 1: Consultation
Your consultation appointment will take about an hour. You will meet with a radiation oncology nurse to discuss your current and past medical history and review any medications you may be taking.
You will also meet with a radiation oncologist who will review your medical history and test results.
During this time, you will learn if you can benefit from radiation therapy. Procedural details and potential side effects of treatment will be explained to you. If the radiation oncologist feels additional tests are necessary, they will be ordered for you.
What to bring to your consultation appointment:
- A list of your current medications and the dose taken
- Health insurance card
- Advanced directive or medical power of attorney, if relevant
- A list of questions you would like to ask
Step 2: A Treatment Plan
If the radiation oncologist recommends it, and you agree that radiation therapy would benefit you, there will be another appointment made to plan your treatment. This planning session involves a simulation where the radiation oncology team determines the placement of the radiation beams. This helps ensure the prescribed radiation is accurately targeted to the affected area while minimizing the impact on nearby healthy tissues. The simulation session will last approximately one hour.
Step 3: Beginning Treatment
Once your treatment plan has been determined, we will work with you to find the best radiation treatment time. Treatments are scheduled during the week, and your appointment time will be the same throughout treatment.