When you are diagnosed with cancer, it is important to discuss all available treatment options with your oncologist. Prior to any radiation therapy treatment, you will be interviewed by clinical oncologists at our Comprehensive Oncology Centre. They will recommend the best treatment strategy for your particular circumstances.

If you decide to proceed with radiation therapy treatment after consultation, the first session will be arranged for treatment simulation. In order to begin your external beam radiation treatment, your radiation therapists will plan your treatment in a process called radiation simulation. In this simulation process, radiation therapists will position your body corresponding to your disease and create customized immobilization devices. These immobilization devices are used to ensure that you’ll be in the same position every time you come to have treatment and to help you stay still. For head and neck diseases, the therapists will make a customized plastic cast that shapes the contour of your head and neck. Some casts may extend to cover your shoulders as well. For the other diseases, a vaclok is used. A vaclok is like a bean bag. While you lay down on this bag, the therapists will draw out all the air so that the beans can mould the contour of your body. Then they will draw some marks on your body and on the immobilization devices with a marker. These marks along with the lasers mounted on the walls are used to set you up in the same position for each radiation therapy treatment. After that, you will undergo a computerized tomography (CT) scan. The therapists will put waterproof adhesive tape on you to help you keep the marks drawn on your skin. After that, you are good to leave. Your images from your scan will be sent to the planning computers. Once the treatment plan is ready, you will receive a call to arrange your first treatment appointment. 

While you are waiting at home for our phone call, we are busy designing and processing your treatment plan behind the scenes. We will call you to book your first radiation treatment appointment as soon as we have confirmed that the planning is complete and verified that it is safe to deliver.

Finally, it is time for your radiation treatments. Your radiation therapists will ask you to confirm your identity. After correct identification, you may be asked to change into a hospital gown, if necessary and to remove any jewelry that might get in the way of the treatment. 

Your radiation therapists will then fit you in your customized immobilization device made at simulation. You will be positioned according to the marks on your skin and on your immobilization device. 

In order to allow your positioning goes smoothly, it is important you do not try to move or help unless asked. You will not feel anything during the delivery of radiation. Just remember to keep still and breathe normally throughout treatment. The treatment time may vary from different treatment plans, but normally takes less than 30 minutes. After the treatment, the therapists will come in and release you. 

If you feel very sick during the treatment, you will have the option to press on a call bell, wave your hand or simply call out. There are cameras and intercom installed inside the treatment room, and we will use these to monitor you closely. We will stop the machine and come in immediately to assist you. Please do not try to get up by yourself under any circumstances to prevent the risk of falling down from the treatment bed or hitting the machine.