External
Beam Therapy
This is state-of-the-art therapy that directs the exact dosage of high energy
precisely to the cancer site, but keeps radiation to other parts of the body
to a minimum. It’s a high tech treatment that beams the radiation from
outside the body.
The radiation oncology department can choose from a battery of special machines
that produce ionizing radiation (such as photons or high energy x-rays) which
destroy cancer cells. Certain types of radiation are best suited to specific
areas of the body. The type of radiation selected by the radiation oncologist
depends upon the location of the tumor.
Your treatment schedule
Of course, your schedule for treatment will depend entirely on your individual
situation. However, patients usually receive external beam therapy five times
a week. Sometimes, a patient is treated twice a day.
An entire course of treatment may last from one to nine weeks, depending on the
type of cancer and the goal of the treatment.
The treatment
We carefully direct the radiation to the tumor and the surrounding area to destroy
the tumor and any nearby extensions. We try our best to spare any surrounding
tissues. Still, radiation may affect some healthy cells.
During the treatment
The radiation therapist will not be in the room with you when you receive external
beam therapy. The therapist will closely monitor you on a television screen during
your treatment. We also have an intercom system that allows us to be in constant
contact with you. Treatment room temperatures may be cooler than desired because
our radiation machines require it for best operation.
During the treatment, you will be asked to lie very still on the treatment table.
The radiation therapist can move the treatment machine so the radiation beam
can be precisely targeted to the exact area of the tumor. The machine can rotate
360 degrees around you so the radiation can hit the tumor from different angles.
Remember, each treatment is painless and lasts only a few minutes.
Weekly checks
You will see the radiation oncologist and the radiation nurse on a weekly basis
to keep track of the progress of the treatments and answer any questions. You
may have to undergo blood tests, x-rays, or other tests to determine how well
the treatments are working.
Blood tests
Although blood tests may be needed at any time, we schedule routine blood tests
at the Outpatient Lab on the Second Floor or in Green Bay Oncology. The staff
will be glad to give you directions. Other lab tests may be ordered by your radiation
oncologist when needed.
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