Radiation Institute

Arrangement of commitments, updating demographic details, and parking arrangements (patients of the radiation institute are entitled to free parking in designated areas).

As part of the reception process, a photograph will be taken for identification purposes only during the treatment period.

Additionally, you are entitled to a parking permit from the secretary.

During this meeting, the doctor will review the medical material and present treatment options. If radiation therapy is decided upon, you will sign a consent form and an appointment will be scheduled for simulation. Additional tests may be sent as needed.

A meeting will be scheduled with the institute's nurse for data collection and medical information gathering, and guidance for the upcoming treatments.

This is an imaging test performed using a CT device to precisely plan the location for radiation treatment, based on the treatment plan tailored to you. Simulation is essentially the first step in the radiation treatment planning process.

The radiation therapy team will explain the simulation process and adjust your most comfortable and suitable position for treatment. In most cases, you will be asked to wear a specific gown that can be easily removed. Small marks will be made with sterilized needles and ink for radiation targeting throughout your treatment period. These marks are tiny and intended for accurate radiation delivery.

At the end of the scan, please inform the radiation therapist of your preferred arrival times during the radiation treatment period, and we will strive to accommodate your preferences. 

After your initial visit with the radiation oncologist, you will meet with a nurse. During this initial meeting, the nurse will collect medical and social data, explain the institute's activities, and share relevant information regarding potential side effects and how to cope with them. It's important to note that side effects vary widely from person to person depending on the irradiated area, radiation dosage, and health status. Detailed explanations will be provided during this meeting.

Subsequent visits with the nurse will include:

• Early identification of side effects and monitoring.
• Recommendations for coping with side effects.
• Provision of necessary treatments such as fluids, dressing changes, and specific irradiation preparations.
• Referral for blood tests and monitoring of results.
• Coordination and follow-up of complex treatments combining chemotherapy and radiation.

As needed, the nurse will liaise with the multidisciplinary team within and outside the oncology system, including the community, for continuity of care.

Feel free to contact the nurse for any concerns. It's important to meet with the nurse at the end of your treatment series to receive instructions for ongoing treatment and follow-up.

Side effects often persist even after treatment ends. Therefore, nurses are available by phone, and if necessary, you can schedule a nurse visit with equipment up to a month after completing radiation therapy.

After simulation, the doctor will mark on the computer the tumor(s) to be treated and the organs requiring protection. The doctor will determine the radiation dosage and prescribe the treatment. The physics team will plan the treatment using advanced computerized systems.

At our institute, we use some of the world's most advanced systems, which allow us to create efficient plans that can minimize side effects. It's important to note that each treatment plan is personalized for the patient. After the physicists complete their work, the plan is reviewed and approved by the doctor. The waiting time between simulation and the start of treatment is approximately two weeks. The institute's secretary will contact you regarding scheduling your first treatment.

Now you are about to begin radiation therapy.

Firstly, let's try to explain what radiation is. Radiation is a beam of energy similar to light that penetrates precisely to the intended treatment area. Due to the precision of our systems, the radiation targets the tumor and primarily affects cancerous cells. Healthy cells are also affected by radiation, but to a lesser extent. It's important to note that side effects are specific and depend on the irradiated area.

Radiation therapy is performed in a treatment room using a device called a linear accelerator.

Usually, radiation therapy is administered five days a week, Sunday to Thursday.

Each time you come to the institute for radiation therapy, you must register at the reception.

When your appointment time arrives, a radiation therapist will call you to the dressing room to change into a gown and wait until they escort you to the treatment room. You can store your removed clothes in a locked cabinet in the dressing room.