Frequently Asked Questions

The section below is designed to answer common questions from patients and their families.

A: When you’re getting a treatment, you won’t feel anything. It is just like having an x-ray taken. You will hear a loud humming noise, but that is only the machine doing its job. You must remember to hold very still and let the technologists (tech) do all the work. Once you are in position on the table, the techs will leave the room and start the treatment. They will be able to see you on a camera at all times. The techs will be in and out of the room during your treatment. They will help you off the table when the treatment is complete, and you’ll be ready to go home. The total time you should expect to spend in the treatment room is 10-15 minutes.

A: No, it is just like having an x-ray taken. You won’t feel anything.

A: Your treatment will take about 10-15 minutes from set-up to finish, but the actual radiation is for only a few minutes.

A: No. We can’t stay in the room with you, but we will be watching you on camera. If you need anything, we will attend to it.

A: The treatments continue to work for up to two weeks after you are finished. The radiation oncologist may order an x-ray or test during your treatment to check progress, or they may wait until a few weeks after you are finished. This is only if your referring physician has not done so. It is like a prescription of medicine. You must take it all before we can see how it has helped.

A: The films that we take during treatments are for localization only, not for diagnostic evaluation. If you do have diagnostic x-rays at the hospital, the radiologist will review the films and send a report to the radiation oncologist. After that, he will review them with you.

A: Probably not. Radiation treatments may make you sick if we are treating an area that includes all or even part of your stomach.

A: You will only lose your hair in the area that we are treating.

A: No. During your treatment, we prefer that they wait in the waiting room. There are other patients in the office, and we want to give everyone as much privacy as possible.

A: The radiation works better if it’s given day after day. That way the cancer cells don’t have time to heal between treatments. You will be treated 5 days/week (Monday- Friday). The weekend allows your body time to rest and recuperate. The center is closed for major holidays. You will be informed a few days in advance about any closings.

A: If the weather is too bad for you to come, please call and let us know. We don’t want you to come out on a bad day. It would be much better to miss a few days than to risk an injury that would cause you to miss many days.

A: Once a week. Of course, if you are experiencing problems or side effects, you should tell the nurse or techs so that the doctor will know what you are experiencing.

A: The doctor will talk with you about what to expect. He will also set-up a follow-up appointment. At that time, he may schedule a test or x-ray to check the status of your cancer if your referring physician (the doctor that sent you here) has not yet done so.

A: Yes. However, Medicare only pays 80% of assignment, and you are responsible for the other 20%. Also, we are required by law to bill you for your co-pay and deductible.

A:

• Will my treatments be given by qualified physicians and staff?
• Does the facility have the equipment I need to receive safe and up-to-date cancer treatment?
• Is the facility accredited by the American College of Radiology (ACR)?

A: A diagnosis of cancer is usually a life-changing experience for patients and their loved ones. As they seek treatment for their disease, cancer patients need to know that they are receiving safe and appropriate care. To achieve ACR accreditation, our facility’s personnel qualifications, equipment requirements quality assurance and quality control procedures have gone through a rigorous review process and have met specific qualifications. It’s important for patients to know that every aspect of the ACR accreditation process is overseen by board-certified, expert radiation oncologists and medical physicists.

A:

• Our facility has voluntarily gone through a vigorous review process to ensure that we meet nationally accepted standards of care.
• Our personnel are well qualified through education and certification to administer your radiation therapy treatments.
• Our equipment is appropriate for the treatment you will receive, and our facility meets or exceeds quality assurance and safety guidelines.

A: When you see the ACR seal you can rest assured that your treatment will be done at a facility that has met the highest level of quality and radiation safety. The facility and its personnel have gone through a comprehensive review to earn accreditation status by the American College of Radiology (ACR), a national professional organization serving more than 36,000 diagnostic/interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists, nuclear medicine physicians and medical physicists

A:

Will my treatments be given by qualified physicians and staff?

Does the facility have the equipment I need to receive safe and up-to-date cancer treatment?

Is the facility accredited by the American College of Radiology (ACR)?

Please keep the following in mind:

Be mindful of your treatment time. We try to run on schedule. A patient is scheduled every fifteen minutes, so if emergencies arise we may get behind. Also, we go by treatment time and not by the time that you arrive. If you have waited more than 15 minutes past your scheduled treatment time, please let the receptionist know.

If you have blood work in another office, please bring us a copy of the results. This will save you from having your blood checked twice. For those patients receiving both chemotherapy and radiation therapy, your blood levels may get low, and you will have to rest from radiation treatment. Also, if your other doctors have ordered any tests or x-rays, please let us know so that we can get the results.

If you have an appointment with another doctor, please let the techs know the day before, and we can reschedule your treatment time so that you can make both appointments.

If you are having any problems, please tell the techs or ask to speak to one of the nurses, and they will let the doctor know so that we can give you the care you need.