Radiation Oncology in Arizona

The Treatment Process

From initial meetings with radiation oncologists to long-term follow-up, patients at Mayo Clinic in Arizona experience a treatment program carefully tailored to their personal needs.

Consultation

Radiation oncologists provide a physical examination, review pertinent medical images and test results and schedule additional studies and visits with other specialists for the patient if appropriate. The physician explains available treatment options, provides a treatment recommendation and discusses any questions and concerns throughout the patient's decision-making process.

Patient Education Session

Once the decision has been made to proceed with treatment, the patient meets with a nurse to learn about:

• What to expect during treatment
• How to recognize and manage symptoms that may accompany treatment
• Resources available at Mayo to support cancer patients

Simulation and Treatment Planning

Each patient's unique treatment beams must be designed and prepared before treatment begins.

The patient is placed on a simulator (special X-ray machine) that duplicates the position of potential treatment beams. Molds or masks may be made to immobilize the patient and aid in subsequent repositioning for daily treatment. Mayo physicians use fluoroscopy and X-rays to determine the treatment fields to be used. Radiation therapists assist in this process.

The patient may be scheduled for a computed tomography (CT) scan in the treatment position so that the exact location of internal anatomy can be identified. CT images are transported electronically to the treatment planning computer, where the physician outlines tissues to be treated and those to be avoided.

A dosimetrist combines information from the CT scan and simulation films to design a detailed treatment plan. Each radiation beam is custom-shaped to conform to the target tissues.

The radiation oncologist evaluates and approves the final plan. A physicist checks all computations and details. The settings for each beam are also entered into a computer system that automatically checks and verifies that every subsequent treatment exactly matches the intended plan.

Treatments usually begin five to 10 days after simulation.

Treatment

Radiation therapy often requires five treatments each week, Monday through Friday, for two to seven weeks. Radiation therapists place the patient on the treatment table in the same position used in simulation and adjust the treatment machine, a linear accelerator (LINAC), according to the patient's treatment plan.

LINAC produces high-energy radiation beams suitable for cancer treatment. The radiation therapist leaves the room during treatment but maintains contact with the patient through closed-circuit television and intercom.

Radiation therapists take films using the treatment beams to verify their accuracy, both before the first treatment and periodically before future treatments.

Treatment lasts only a few minutes. It is not painful and does not make the patient radioactive.

Physician Visits

Patients are automatically scheduled to see either a radiation oncologist or nurse practitioner each week throughout treatment so that questions may be answered and side effects addressed. The radiation oncologist or nurse practitioner will also see the patient periodically after treatment ends to assess the long-term outcome of therapy.