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Dr. Joshua Petit helps a patient before
treatment on the TrueBeam STx |
Your radiation oncologist monitors your daily treatment and may change your radiation dose if needed. Also, your doctor may order blood tests, X-rays and other tests to see how your body is responding to treatment. If the tumor shrinks significantly, another simulation may be required. This allows your radiation oncologist to change the treatment to destroy the rest of the tumor and spare even more normal tissue.
In addition, you will probably meet with a radiation oncology nurse during treatment to assess your side effects. Our social worker will touch base with you during your treatment to discuss any coping or logistical concerns you may have.
Weekly Status Checks
During radiation therapy, your radiation oncologist and nurse will see you regularly to follow your progress, evaluate whether you are having any side effects, recommend treatments for those side effects (such as medication), and address any concerns you may have. As treatment progresses, your doctor may make changes in the schedule or treatment plan depending on your response or reaction to the therapy.
Your radiation therapy team may gather on a regular basis with other healthcare professionals to review your case to ensure your treatment is proceeding as planned. During these sessions, all the members of the team discuss your progress as well as any concerns.
Daily or Weekly Beam Films
During your course of treatment, correct positions of the treatment beams will be regularly verified with images made using the treatment beam itself. These images (called port films, beam films or portal verification) represent an important quality assurance check. The frequency of the films is determined by your doctor.
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