Below we outline the steps you will go through if you have radiation therapy.
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Consultation sessionYou will meet with a radiation oncologist. They will check your test results, assess your fitness for treatment, and explain the process and expected results, and discuss possible side effects and risks. You will be asked to agree (consent) to have treatment. |
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Planning sessionYou will meet with a radiation therapist. They will work out how to best position your body during EBRT or where to place the applicators for brachytherapy. |
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Treatment planBased on the planning session and the treatment guidelines for the cancer type, the radiation oncologist, radiation therapist and medical physicist will work out the radiation dose, what area needs to be treated and how to deliver the right dose of radiation. |
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Treatment sessionsRadiation therapists will deliver the course of radiation therapy as set out in the treatment plan. How long each treatment session takes will depend on the type of radiation therapy. |
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Review and follow-upYou will have regular reviews during treatment to monitor and discuss how to manage any side effects. After radiation therapy ends, you will see the radiation oncologist to find out whether the cancer has responded to treatment. |
Key resource
Download a PDF booklet on this topic.
More resources
Prof June Corry, Radiation Oncologist, GenesisCare, St Vincent’s Hospital, VIC; Prof Bryan Burmeister, Senior Radiation Oncologist, GenesisCare Fraser Coast, Hervey Bay Hospital, and The University of Queensland, QLD; Sandra Donaldson, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Jane Freeman, Accredited Practising Dietitian (Cancer specialist), Canutrition, NSW; Sinead Hanley, Consumer; David Jolly, Senior Medical Physicist, Icon Cancer Centre Richmond, VIC; Christine Kitto, Consumer; A/Prof Grace Kong, Nuclear Medicine Physician, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; A/Prof Sasha Senthi, Radiation Oncologist, The Alfred Hospital and Monash University, VIC; John Spurr, Consumer; Chris Twyford, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Radiation Oncology, Cancer Rapid Assessment Unit and Outpatients, Canberra Hospital, ACT; Gabrielle Vigar, Nurse Unit Manager, Radiation Oncology/Cancer Outpatients, Cancer Program, Royal Adelaide Hospital, SA.
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