Radiation Therapy Patient Guide

two radiation oncology nurses stand in hallway

Request an appointment at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center Radiation Medicine by calling 843-792-9300 to begin the process of determining whether you are a candidate for treatment. Based on the initial conversation, we will schedule a personal consultation with one of our exceptional radiation oncology specialists and a decision will be made on whether treatment is right for you.

The information and resources below will help you understand and navigate the different steps if you move forward with treatment.

What to Expect | Side Effects | Follow-Up Care | Patient Resources | FAQs

What to Expect During Radiation Treatment

Your first visit

When you arrive for your consultation appointment with a radiation oncologist, please bring any requested medical records (CT, MRI scans and reports, pathology/biopsy reports) with you unless previously sent to us. It is also important for you to have your insurance cards, including Medicare and any co-insurance cards, as well as your driver’s license or state ID available for our receptionist. We will confirm your benefits, and if needed, obtain any pre-authorization required by your insurance company prior to scheduling any procedure.

Initial steps

CT Simulation

A CT scan is usually required prior to beginning treatment. This is used to develop your customized treatment plan. Some patients may need a soft mesh mask or a molded body cradle to help keep the body still during treatment. The fitting is painless and is completed as part of the CT simulation process. During this process, the therapist will also mark the treatment area on your skin with semi-permanent ink. You should be careful not to wash these marks off.

MR Imaging

Sometimes special imaging procedures, such as an MRI, are needed in addition to the CT scan. This is usually scheduled on the day of, or close to the timing of your CT scan. In some cases it may require you to be in the position of treatment with your custom immobilization devices in place.

Laboratory Studies

Imaging procedures may require the use of contrast material to better delineate the target. In these cases, we need to ensure that your kidneys are functioning well enough to flush the dye out of your body. This is determined with a blood test known as a “BUN” and a creatinine.

Tissue Markers

Depending on your individual case, you made need small tissue markers, known as fiducials, implanted in or near the tumor site. Fiducials help to precisely target the treatment area and are implanted in a brief outpatient procedure. If needed, fiducial placement takes place prior to the CT scan.

Treatment Planning

From the time of CT simulation, it usually takes 10-14 days to be ready to start your radiation treatment. During that time, your physician and their dosimetrist are working to delineate the areas they want to treat, those that they want to avoid and to design the beam angles.

Radiation treatment appointments

Radiation treatment is a painless procedure. A radiation therapist will help you onto the treatment table and fit the mask or body mold as necessary. Similar to having a CT scan or MRI, all it requires is for you to lay still — our machines do all the work. If your treatment plan requires a special procedure, like a breath hold technique, you will be coached through the process. Patients are observed throughout the treatment on closed-circuit television. The treatment can be paused at any time. There is no sedation or anesthesia required.

Your treatment appointment may last 15-30 minutes, but the treatments themselves are usually less than 5 minutes in length. The remainder of the time is spent in ensuring that you are in the correct treatment position. You can select your favorite genre of music to be played during the treatment session. Patients are usually free to continue their normal routines after their session.

If your physician prescribes treatment that is fractionated, or divided into stages, you will return every day Monday through Friday for a number of weeks, depending on the treatment plan. While on treatment, you will meet with your physician weekly to discuss how you are feeling and address any side effects that may develop.

Introduction to radiation therapy video

This video will help give you a better understanding of what to expect when receiving radiation therapy for cancer.

Side Effects of Radiation Treatment

Before beginning treatment, your physician will discuss the types of side effects that you may experience, including their duration and severity. Please ask as many questions as you need to feel comfortable with the process!

The side effects of radiation treatment vary from patient to patient and will depend on the amount of radiation you receive and the part of your body being treated. Fortunately, most side effects go away with time and there are ways to reduce the discomfort they may cause. Be sure to tell your radiation oncologist, nurse or radiation therapist about any side effects that you notice.

Radiation Treatment Follow-Up Care

Once your radiation therapy is complete, it is important to follow the results of your treatment. This may include regular checkups, lab work and imaging. Many patients return to Radiation Medicine for these visits. Others are followed by the physician who referred them to Radiation Medicine or by a medical oncologist. Your follow-up care will depend on the kind of cancer that you have.

Patients who have had radiation therapy may need to continue some of the special care used during treatment, at least for a short time. For example, you may have skin reactions for several weeks after your treatment ends and you should continue to be gentle with your skin until all signs of irritation are gone.

Radiation Treatment Patient Resources

In addition to the videos below, MUSC Hollings Cancer Center provides a wide range of patient and family resources to help you through all aspects of your cancer treatment.

Radiation therapy for brain tumors

Radiation therapy for breast cancer

Radiation therapy for lower gastrointestinal cancers

Radiation therapy for upper gastrointestinal cancers

Radiation therapy for gynecologic cancers

Radiation therapy for head and neck cancers

Radiation therapy for lung cancer

Radiation therapy for prostate cancer

Radiation Treatment for Cancer: Frequently Asked Questions

How will I know if the treatments are working?

Throughout your treatments, your radiation oncologist will regularly check on your health and the results of your therapy. You may not be aware of changes in your cancer, but you will probably notice less pain, bleeding, or other discomforts you may have had because of the cancer.

Will I lose my hair?

Radiation therapy causes hair loss only in the area being treated. For example, if you are receiving treatments to your hip, you will not lose the hair from your head. Radiation to your head may cause you to lose some or all of your hair on your head. After the treatments stop, most patients find that their hair will grow back again.

Will treatment limit my activities?

Radiation therapy will not automatically limit your activities. Your activity level will depend on what side effects you have and how serious they are. Many patients can go to work, keep house and enjoy leisure activities while they are receiving radiation therapy. You should try to do the things that you want to as long as you do not become too tired.

Does radiation therapy affect emotions?

Nearly all patients who receive treatment for cancer feel emotionally upset. It is not unusual to feel depressed, afraid, angry, frustrated, alone and/or helpless. Radiation therapy may affect the emotions indirectly by causing fatigue, but the treatment itself is not a direct cause of mental distress.

Many patients help themselves by talking about their feelings with a chaplain, family member, close friend, nurse, social worker or psychologist with whom they feel at ease. We have a psychologist on staff if you would like a referral. You may want to ask your doctor or nurse about meditation or relaxation exercises that could help calm you.

What effect will therapy have on my blood?

Sometimes radiation therapy can cause low white blood cell counts or low levels of platelets. White blood cells help your body fight infection and platelets prevent bleeding. If your blood tests show this side effect, your treatment might be delayed for a few days to let your blood counts come back up to normal.

How often will I see the doctor during treatments?

Once you start radiation treatments, your doctor and nurse will follow your progress, checking your response to treatment and overall well being at least once a week. Your doctor will revise your treatment plan if needed. It is very important that you have all of your scheduled treatments to get the most benefit from radiation therapy.

Do I need to do anything special during my radiation treatments?

Nearly all cancer patients receiving radiation therapy need to take special care of themselves to protect their health and help the treatment be successful. Follow the eating and skin care tips from your care team and be sure to get plenty of rest. Sleep as often as you need to. Your body will use a lot of extra energy while you are receiving radiation treatment. In general, take extra special care of yourself during this tiring and stressful time.

Do I need to stay away from people while I am taking radiation?

Absolutely not! Radiation therapy does not cause your body to become radioactive. There is no need to avoid being with other people because of your treatment. In fact, you will probably want to be with those you love and those who can offer you support and encouragement while you are receiving radiation treatments and beyond.

Will I be able to drive myself to and from treatments?

If you are currently driving yourself now and a physician has not suggested for you to stop driving, then by all means, continue to drive yourself if you would like. However, if you start feeling fatigued during your treatments, it is recommended that you ask someone to escort you. If you are having problems with transportation, let one of our nurses know and they will be able to assist you.

Again, we ask that you talk with your doctor, nurse or radiation therapist about any of your questions or concerns. They are the only ones who can give you the correct answers and information about your treatment, side effects, at-home care and other medical concerns you may have.