Patient Resources

Consultation and Treatment

Your first appointment with Oncology North will be a consultation.  This visit will include a health history, a physical exam and a discussion of treatment recommendations and/or options.  It may also be necessary to schedule other diagnostic tests such as a PET/CT or MRI scan, in order to determine the best course of treatment.

The next scheduled appointment is usually for review and discussion of test results or for simulation.  Simulation involves using specialized CT Scan to determine the treatment field position.  It will be at this time that marks will be placed on the skin so that you can be positioned precisely for the radiation therapy treatment.  

Treatments are generally given daily, Monday through Friday, at approximately the same time each day.  Typically, each treatment takes only a few minutes, and you won’t feel anything during the process. 

What is Cancer? 

Cancer is abnormal and generally unregulated growth of cells. Cancer cells are cells that grow and divide when they shouldn't or don't when they should.

Because cancer is so prevalent, people have many questions about its biology, detection, diagnosis, possible causes, and strategies for prevention. For more information, please visit www.cancer.org.au and www.macmillan.org.uk

What is Radiotherapy?

Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) is a cancer treatment that uses radiation to kill cancer cells and stop them from spreading.  At low doses, radiation is used to see inside your body and take pictures, such as x-rays of your teeth or broken bones.  Radiation used in cancer treatment works in much the same way, except that it is given at higher doses. 

How is radiation therapy given?

Radiation therapy can be external beam (when a machine outside your body aims radiation at cancer cells) or internal (when radiation is put inside your body, in or near the cancer cells).  Sometimes people get both forms of radiation therapy. 

Who gets radiation therapy?

Many people with cancer need radiation therapy. In fact, more than half (about 60 percent) of people with cancer get radiation therapy. Sometimes, radiation therapy is the only kind of cancer treatment people need. 

What does radiation therapy do to cancer?

Given in high doses, radiation kills cancer cells. Radiation therapy is used to: 

• Cure cancer.  Radiation can be used to cure, stop, or slow the growth of cancer.
• Reduce symptoms.  When a cure is not possible, radiation may be used to shrink cancer tumours in order to reduce pressure.  Radiation therapy used in this way can treat problems such as pain, or it can prevent problems such as blindness or loss of bowel and bladder control.