therapy treatments in sequence. Occasionally, because of machine malfunction, a treatment may be
canceled. In this case a make-up treatment will be added at the end of your originally scheduled course.
The same is true if you cannot come in for a scheduled treatment. Please notify the nurse and/or
technologist by telephone if you have to miss an appointment.
Can I receive radiation treatments more than once?
Generally a patient can receive radiation therapy to a given area only once. This is because further
radiation therapy to that same area might cause unacceptable side effects or permanent damage.
Occasionally, if the radiation tolerance has not been exceeded, someone can receive more radiation even
to an area that was already treated. Because the effects of radiation are local, most patients can receive
radiation to another part of the body just as if they had no previous radiation.
How does taking radiation and chemotherapy at the same time affect my body?
For certain types of cancer, a combination of radiation and chemotherapy are more effective than either
one alone. Chemotherapy is a systemic treatment which is acting on the whole body as it travels through
the bloodstream. When it is given at the same time as radiation, it often increases the effect of radiation
on cancer cells. Unfortunately, sometimes there is also an increase in side effects when both treatments
are given together. The exact type of chemotherapy used depends on what kind of cancer is being
treated.
What are clinical trials?
Radiation oncologists, physicists and others continue to explore new ways to treat the cancer patient
effectively with radiation and radioactive sources. The practice of radiation oncology continues to grow
and change. Cancer specialists are conducting studies now to determine what treatment is best for each
cancer patient. These studies are called "clinical trials" or "treatment protocols." Most large clinical
trials compare standard treatment to a treatment that cancer experts think might be better. All patients
who participate in clinical trials are carefully monitored to make sure they are getting quality care.
Cancer patients should talk to their doctor about clinical trials before they choose treatment.
Glossary
A
Alpha Cradle: A treatment device that is custom-made from a foam substance, and is placed on the
patient during a radiation treatment for the purpose of immobilising and/or positioning the patient.
Arc: refers to a radiation beam that is not stationary, that is, the beam moves around an axis is a curved
path during the treatment. Also called a rotation.
B
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