Consultations and treatment planning

Upon a referral from an oncologist, surgeon or primary care physician, a patient meets with one of our radiation oncologists and radiation oncology nurses.

At the consultation appointment, the following takes place:

• The patient's condition is evaluated through medical history, a physical exam and previous medical tests, such as X-rays.
• Diagnostic tests may be arranged to fully research treatment options.
• The role of radiation therapy in cancer treatment is explained.
• Options, treatment goals and next steps are discussed.
• A patient might visit with other oncology specialists about their treatment choices.
• A patient will also be asked to sign a consent form to advance to treatment planning.

After the consultation, treatment planning begins – the next step in evaluating your condition before undergoing radiation therapy. After radiation therapy is chosen as the way to treat a patient's cancer, treatment planning begins.

Treatment planning means the radiation therapy team determines technique, type of therapy, dosage, frequency and duration of treatments. The key component to treatment planning is through a process called simulation – the design of the actual treatment technique, including patient positioning and immobilization devices.

The first step in simulation is to physically position the patient with the equipment as though they would be treated. The tumor region is located and the treatment area is marked.

Once the immobilization device is created, the patient will have a special treatment planning computed tomography (CT) scan and in some cases, special magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or a position emission tomography (PET) scan for further tumor localization. The treatment planning team then reviews all the information provided to design the best treatment plan.

The particular type of radiation therapy is determined and a treatment plan is developed to provide the safest and most effective treatment. The radiation oncologist, along with the patient's oncologist and primary care physician, outline the course of treatment for the patient.

National recognition

The Radiation Oncology Center at the Virginia Piper Cancer Institute - Abbott Northwestern Hospital is accredited by the American College of Radiology (ACR). To learn more about this accreditation, go to acr.org.