External Beam Radiation Therapy
What is external
beam radiation
therapy? |
External beam radiation therapy comes from a machine that
aims radiation at your cancer. The machine is large and may
be noisy. It does not touch you, but rotates around you,
sending radiation to your body from many directions.
External beam radiation therapy is a local treatment, meaning
that the radiation is aimed only at a specific part of your body.
For example, if you have lung cancer, you will get radiation to
your chest only and not the rest of your body.
External beam radiation therapy comes from a machine that aims
radiation at your cancer.
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How often will I
get external beam
radiation therapy? |
Most people get external beam radiation therapy once a day,
5 days a week, Monday through Friday. Treatment lasts for
2 to 10 weeks, depending on the type of cancer you have and
the goal of your treatment. The time between your first and
last radiation therapy sessions is called a course of treatment.
Radiation is sometimes given in smaller doses twice a day
(hyperfractionated radiation therapy). Your doctor may
prescribe this type of treatment if he or she feels that it will
work better. Although side effects may be more severe, there
may be fewer late side effects. Doctors are doing research to
see which types of cancer are best treated this way.
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Where do I go for
external beam
radiation therapy?
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Most of the time, you will get external beam radiation therapy
as an outpatient. This means that you will have treatment at a
clinic or radiation therapy center and will not have to stay in
the hospital.
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What happens
before my first
external beam
radiation
treatment?
If you are getting radiation
to the head, you may need a
mask.
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You will have a 1- to 2-hour meeting with your doctor or nurse
before you begin radiation therapy. At this time, you will have
a physical exam, talk about your medical history, and maybe
have imaging tests. Your doctor or nurse will discuss external
beam radiation therapy, its benefits and side effects, and ways
you can care for yourself during and after treatment. You can
then choose whether to have external beam radiation therapy.
If you agree to have external beam radiation therapy, you will
be scheduled for a treatment planning session called a
simulation. At this time:
- A radiation oncologist and radiation therapist will define
your treatment area (also called a treatment port or
treatment field). This refers to the places in your body that
will get radiation. You will be asked to lie very still while
x-rays or scans are taken to define the treatment area.
-
The radiation therapist will then put small marks (tattoos or
dots of colored ink) on your skin to mark the treatment
area. You will need these marks throughout the course of
radiation therapy. The radiation therapist will use them
each day to make sure you are in the correct position.
Tattoos are about the size of a freckle and will remain on
your skin for the rest of your life. Ink markings will fade
over time. Be careful not to remove them and make sure to
tell the radiation therapist if they fade or lose color.
- You may need a body mold. This is a plastic or plaster
form that helps keep you from moving during treatment. It
also helps make sure that you are in the exact same
position each day of treatment.
- If you are getting radiation to the head, you may need a
mask. The mask has air holes, and holes can be cut for
your eyes, nose, and mouth. It attaches to the table where
you will lie to receive your treatments. The mask helps
keep your head from moving so that you are in the exact
same position for each treatment.
If the body mold or mask makes you feel anxious, see
"Your Feelings During Radiation Therapy"
for ways to relax during treatment.
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Tell your radiation therapist if your
ink marks begin to fade or lose color.
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What should I
wear when I get
external beam
radiation therapy?
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Wear clothes that are comfortable and made of soft fabric,
such as cotton. Choose clothes that are easy to take off, since
you may need to change into a hospital gown or show the area
that is being treated. Do not wear clothes that are tight, such
as close-fitting collars or waistbands, near your treatment area.
Also, do not wear jewelry, BAND-AIDS®, powder, lotion, or
deodorant in or near your treatment area, and do not use
deodorant soap before your treatment.
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What happens
during treatment
sessions?
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- You may be asked to change into a hospital gown or robe.
- You will go to a treatment room where you will receive
radiation.
- Depending on where your cancer is, you will either sit in a
chair or lie down on a treatment table. The radiation
therapist will use your body mold and skin marks to help
you get into position.
- You may see colored lights pointed at your skin marks.
These lights are harmless and help the therapist position
you for treatment each day.
- You will need to stay very still so the radiation goes to the
exact same place each time. You can breathe as you always
do and do not have to hold your breath.
The radiation therapist will leave the room just before your
treatment begins. He or she will go to a nearby room to
control the radiation machine and watch you on a TV screen
or through a window. You are not alone, even though it may
feel that way. The radiation therapist can see you on the
screen or through the window. He or she can hear and talk
with you through a speaker in your treatment room. Make
sure to tell the therapist if you feel sick or are uncomfortable.
He or she can stop the radiation machine at any time. You
cannot feel, hear, see, or smell radiation.
Your entire visit may last from 30 minutes to 1 hour. Most of
that time is spent setting you in the correct position. You will
get radiation for only 1 to 5 minutes. If you are getting IMRT,
your treatment may last longer. Your visit may also take longer
if your treatment team needs to take and review x-rays.
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Your radiation therapist can see, hear, and
talk with you at all times while you are
getting external beam radiation therapy.
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Will external beam
radiation therapy
make me
radioactive?
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No, external beam radiation therapy does not make people
radioactive. You may safely be around other people, even
babies and young children.
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How can I relax
during my
treatment sessions?
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- Bring something to read or do while in the waiting room.
- Ask if you can listen to music or books on tape.
- Meditate, breathe deeply, use imagery, or find other ways
to relax. To learn more about ways to relax, see Facing
Forward: Life After Cancer Treatment, a book from the
National Cancer Institute. You can order a free copy at
www.cancer.gov/publications or 1-800-4-CANCER.
For ways to learn more about external beam radiation therapy,
see "Resources for Learning More".
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