radiation therapy

What is radiation therapy? Radiation therapy, sometimes called radiotherapy, effectively treats cancer by using high-energy beams to pinpoint and destroy cancerous cells. Although radiation therapy is similar to an X-ray, the dose of radiation in cancer treatment is much stronger and is given over a longer period of time. Many forms of radiation are available. Your oncologist will choose the best therapy based on the type, stage and location of your cancer.
With careful planning, radiation can be directed to the cancer and away from most normal tissues. This means you may receive treatment on more than one side of your body or from different angles. You may also need more than one type of radiation, which may require the use of more than one machine.
What are the possible side effects? Side effects depend on the part of the body being treated. Most go away a few weeks after treatment ends. Tell your nurse if you have any of the following side effects:
Red, itching and peeling skin in your treatment area. This usually happens after about 4 weeks of radiation therapy. Report any skin problems to your nurse or doctor.
Fatigue. You may feel more tired than usual. Make sure to get plenty of rest, and do not overexert yourself.
Loss of appetite. This is common if your abdomen or mouth is in the treatment area. Try eating several small meals or snacks throughout the day, instead of three big meals. A dietitian can give you more tips.
Hair loss. Hair loss may occur, but only in the area being treated.
Will radiation therapy make me radioactive? No. You can continue to enjoy the same contact with family and friends without fear of exposing them to radiation.
If you are hospitalized for insertion of internal radioactive sources, you will stay in a protected room until the source of radiation is removed. If you need this type of radiation, your doctor will explain it to you in detail.
How do I make an appointment in the Radiation Treatment Center?Patients can refer themselves to M. D. Anderson Cancer Center for cancer diagnosis, treatment or screening.These forms are located on a secure server, so all correspondence will be private and secure.
Patients, complete the Patient Self-Referral form to initiate the new patient appointment process. A Referral Specialist will call to collect the additional information that is required prior to confirming your appointment.
Physicians, complete the Physician Referral form to initiate the referral process. A Referral Specialist will contact your office to collect additional information.
What can I expect in the Radiation Treatment Center? For your initial visit, be prepared to spend one to three hours in the Center. You will meet with the Radiation Oncology team for evaluation. If you decide to proceed, you will receive more information about your particular treatment and possible side effects. An appointment will be made for your planning session (simulation).
The simulation visit takes one to three hours. You will be asked to sign a treatment consent form. The radiation therapist will position you on the treatment table and take X-rays, CT scans and other images to confirm the treatment area. Once the images are approved, the radiation therapist will mark reference points, either directly on your skin or on a plastic face mask. Because the marking fluid will stain, wear old clothing or a cotton T-shirt underneath your good clothing.
Your actual treatments will start within the next 3-7 days. More X-rays will be taken to verify treatment fields. As the treatment progresses, the treatment area and marks may change.
Who administers my treatment? The radiation oncologist is responsible for designing your treatment plan, including the amount of radiation you will receive and the total number of treatment days. The radiation oncologist will also manage any medical problems that may develop during your treatment.
A radiation therapist delivers the prescribed treatment and will help you before, during and after treatments. All radiation therapists at M. D. Anderson are licensed, certified professionals who have completed extensive education in radiation treatment delivery and patient care.
A radiation therapy nurse works closely with the radiation oncologist to help you throughout treatment.
The health care team also includes other physicians, medical dosimetrists (specialists who use computers to help design treatment plans), social workers, dietitians, and chaplains.
How often will I get radiation treatments? Your daily treatments will probably be scheduled Monday through Friday, allowing you to rest on weekends.
Your daily appointment schedule will be as convenient for you as possible. Your radiation therapist will notify you of any holidays on which you will not receive treatments.
Your doctor will examine you and review your progress once a week. This scheduled check-up will take longer than the treatment visits. The nurses who see you during the check-up will work closely with you and the doctor to help you manage any side effects you may have. This is also the proper time to request refills for any medications that you may need to manage side effects.
Why do treatments last more than five weeks?The large doses necessary to treat your tumor cannot be given at one time because of the severe side effects they would cause. On average, the course of treatment for radiation therapy takes 5 to 7 weeks. This time period enables your body to better tolerate the effects of the radiation.
Does radiation treatment hurt?No. However, the treatment table can be a little uncomfortable. If you do experience pain during treatment, tell the radiation therapist. He or she will turn off the machine and come into the room. The radiation stops when the machine is turned off.
Why must I remain alone during treatment? If the radiation therapists stayed in the treatment room with every patient, they would be exposed to dangerous levels of radiation. Even though they are not in the treatment room, patients are constantly monitored by intercom and video camera. If you ever need assistance during your treatment, speak up. The radiation therapist can stop the treatment and attend to your needs.
What will happen on my other visits? At each radiation therapy session:
You will be asked to put on a gown or remove some clothes to allow the treatment area marks to show
The therapist will help you onto a treatment table. Your position will be the exactly the same for each treatment.
The radiation therapist will leave the room, monitor you by closed-circuit television, and be in contact with you through an intercom.
Keep in mind that the treatment machines are large and sometimes noisy while in use. Just relax and breathe normally.
What delays can I expect? Sometimes you may have to wait for your treatment or to see the doctor because the Radiation Treatment Center is very busy. If you wait longer than 30 minutes, please check with the patient service coordinator.
One cause of delay may be equipment downtime. This happens when a radiation therapy machine cannot be used because it is being serviced. In most of these cases you will be asked to wait, or you may be treated on another machine.
How can I help myself during treatment?

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Eat a well-balanced diet. Include breads and cereals; meats, eggs or beans; milk or milk products, vegetables and fruits. Your body needs more calories now, so you may need to eat more than usual. A dietitian from the radiation therapy clinic can help you set up a food plan.
Monitor your weight. Tell your doctor or nurse if you lose or gain 10 or more pounds. If you notice your weight going down, drink high-calorie beverages such as milk shakes or nutritional supplements.
Drink at least 8 cups of fluid daily: water, gelatin, popsicles, juices, iced tea, soup and milk.
Get some exercise. Continue your regular activities, but don’t overexert yourself. Your doctor will discuss how much exercise you should get.
Get plenty of rest. Try to sleep at least six hours at night and take naps during the day if possible.
How do I care for my skin during radiation therapy? Toward the end of treatment, the radiated skin may become pink and itchy. In some cases, the skin may blister and flake like a sunburn.
What to do:
Leave any marks that you may have on your skin until all of your treatments are finished. In some cases, you may rinse the treatment area with warm water, but do not rub or scrub off the marks. Your nurse will talk with you in more detail about care of your treatment area. During your treatment, your therapist will remind you about skin care.
Do not use soap on the marks.
Wear loose-fitting, cotton clothing that does not rub the treatment area.
Do not put any source of heat or cold on the treatment area, and do not let the sun shine on the area.
If your skin itches in the treatment area, do not scratch it. If this is a problem for you, tell your therapist, nurse or doctor. Some medicines may relieve the itching.
Do not put anything (cream, lotion, powder, makeup) on the treatment area unless your doctor or nurse says it is OK. After your treatment is complete, your doctor may give you an ointment.
Before shaving any part of your treatment area, check with your therapist, nurse or doctor. If you are allowed to shave, use an electric shaver.
Will I be able to have sex?You may have sex if it is comfortable for you. You are not radioactive, and your partner is in no danger from the radiation treatments or the cancer.
If you are a woman of childbearing age and have sex during treatment, you must use some type of birth control. Your doctor can help you decide what kind of birth control is best for you.
If you need to talk with someone about other sexual health concerns, you may schedule an appointment with a social worker.
What about my other medications? Provide your doctor or radiation therapy nurse with a complete list of prescription or over-the-counter medicines you are currently taking. He or she will review your current medications, which usually can be continued throughout your treatment. Your primary care doctor will still prescribe any medications you are taking for problems other than cancer.
What if I have other questions?If you or your family members have any questions about your care, please ask your nurse or doctor. You may also talk with a social worker. The Department of Social Work offers individual counseling, support groups, community resources, transportation and housing while you are being treated in the Radiation Treatment Center.