Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
After your initial consultation with the radiation oncology, where it will be decided you will
get radiation therapy, you will be given an appointment for CT simulation. Your CT simulation
appointment starts with checking in at reception, with the patient flow coordinator.
Anne: When I arrived at the patient reception area, for the CT scan, I just presented my
blue hospital card. They advised me that they would be taking a picture, and then they just
advised me to sit in the waiting room. There were some forms I had to fill out.
The forms that you fill out ask for travel arrangements and your preferred appointment
times for your radiation treatment, so we can do our best in booking your appointments.
Even though we give you a schedule, you can always ask a radiation therapist if they can
adjust your times. Efforts will be made to accommodate your time preference window. But
it’s not always possible due to the medical needs of other patients and the requirements
of the treatment unit where you will be treated. Monica: I found the whole appointment process
actually very accommodating. The CT simulation is used to gather information
about your body shape, the location of the caner, and your healthy organs.
Joanna McCusker: That CT Scan that you had will be used to plan your treatment with your
R O. Most patients who come in with their CT simulation have concerns and questions
and they’re afraid because it’s the first step of the process. A regular question patients
have is “I’ve already have 5 CT scans this week, why do I need another one?” This
CT scan is different; it’s not a diagnostic scan. It’s used to plan your radiation treatment.
Your radiation oncologist, or a nurse, or a therapist will know ahead of time what preparation
is needed ahead of the scan. You’ll be positioned by the radiation therapists
during the CT scan. That position will be the same position you will be in during every
treatment. Immobilization devices are often used to ensure a position that is relatively
comfortable, and will keep you from moving during treatment.
Joanna: We are very precise in radiation therapy; we work in a matter of millimeters. So we
want to make sure that you’re kept as still as possible during treatment.
Some examples of immobilization treatments include masks, headrests, armrests, and bean
bag cradles. A number of marks may be drawn on your skin with a marker. These are part
of the planning process, and also help in determining the best possible position during
treatment. Joanna: If you are unable to maintain that
position for 15-20 min every day during treatment, it’s very important you let us know, because
we want to make sure we’re able to do that, and the CT simulation is when we’re best
able to decide that. We will tell you what we’re doing every stop of the way, and we
will let you know during the CT simulation, if there’s anything you’re unsure of you
can ask. Anne: You don’t feel anything at all. It’s
not scary, you’re just lying there, comfortable, relaxed.
The images taken during the scan help we plan the position of your body during treatment.
And how we can ensure you will be in the exact same position every time. Depending on the
area that is being treated, you may have to receive positioning tattoos that are applied
using a very small needle. These tattoos are used as a guide for the radiation therapist,
so we can line up the radiation beam to the exact area that we want to treat, every single
time. The tattoos are used to ensure proper position, but do not necessarily represent
where the radiation will be directed. These tattoos are permanent, but the other, larger
marks made with a marker during the CT simulation process, will wash off.
Monica: The application of the tattoos I did not find particularly painful.
Keith: It’s similar to having a ballpoint pen pressed against your skin very lightly.
Joanna: It’s a very small scratch, just below the first few layers of skin. It feels
like a very small mosquito bite. Once you’ve done the CT simulation, we will
contact you to set up your first radiation treatment appointment.
Joanna: So once the scan is done, you will get a phone call from our booking office,
and they will let you know when your treatments are to start. Another radiation therapist,
a planner, will work very closely with a radiation oncologist to devise a plan that is best suited
to you, so it goes through a whole bunch of quality checks before it is delivered to the
treatment unit for you.