Patient Information
Treatment Information
We have provided the below downloads for our patients on treatment. If you have any specific concerns related to your treatment, please ask to see your Oncologist that is treating you.
RADIATION THERAPY FACT SHEET
Our goal with this booklet is to provide some additional information with regards to your radiation treatment as well as provide some guidelines to help make the process easier both for you as the patient as well as your support system. Our DMO team is commitied to guiding and supporting our patients during their journey and are always happy to answer any additional questions that you may have during the course of your treatment.
While we understand that the process can be overwhelming, it is our hope that this booklet will assist to alleviate some of the uncertainty that you as a patient are faced with. While we have taken care to include the most relevant information, it is still important to remember that radiation therapy affects people differently.
Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) is the precise use of radiation in order to safely and effectively treat cancer. Radiation therapy is used to cure and treat cancer and can help alleviate certain cancer symptoms such as pain and bleeding. Radiation therapy uses strong beams of energy to damage and kill the cancer cells. Your treatment is planned in great detail in order to minimize the impact on your healthy tissue, while at the same time making sure that your cancer is treated with maximum effectiveness. Cancer cells are more sensitive to radiation than healthy tissue and cannot repair themselves as normal cells can. This is why your treatment schedule will be worked out in such a way that your body can eliminate the cancer cells while still having enough time to repair your healthy cells, allowing your body to recover. Please remember that in the event of unforeseen circumstances, your treatment schedule may be altered slightly without any adverse effects on the outcome.
What happens during:
Your doctor will study your existing reports and information and will discuss the treatment options with you. Once you've decided on a specific course of treatment and have given consent, that information will be sent through to your medical aid for authorisation.
The prescription is sent to your Medical aid for authorisation. This takes three to five working days as per standard medical aid protocol. The duration of your waiting time is also linked to the type of treatment that you are scheduled to receive and as a general guideline:
- For 3D/VMAT treatments - Typically between 3-5 business days
- For SRS/SBRT treatments - Typically between 7-10 business days
Once your medical aid has authorised your planning scan, the staff from Icon Radiotherapy will contact you in order to set up an appointment. Please be aware that other factors that could delay the scheduling of your scan, but the staff from Icon Radiotherapy will contact you and book you at the first available appointment.
Before beginning your treatment, you will be sent for a CT planning scan. This is to map out the area that will be treated and make sure that the radiation therapists are delivering your treatment to exactly the right area.
Once the scans are done, the real work begins. Your multidisciplinary team will work together to put together the most effective treatment plan, specifically tailored to your individual needs. This process can take several working days and we thank you for your understanding in this ma@er. The meticulous planning that takes place during this stage is invaluable for making sure that you get the best possible outcome to your treatment.
The duration of your waiting time is also linked to the type of treatment that you are scheduled to receive and as a general guideline:
- For 3D/VMAT treatments - Typically between 3-5 business days
- For SRS/SBRT treatments - Typically between 7-10 business days
While we understand that waiting for your treatment to be finalized can be stressful, it is not something that can or should be rushed. The waiting period is essential in order to ensure that the highest possible level of effectiveness and precision can be reached. Should there be any unforeseen events that can delay the process over and above the expected waiting times, the staff from Icon Radiotherapy will be in contact with you to provide updates.
Once your treatment plan has been approved by your Radiation Oncologist, you will be contacted by the Icon Radiotherapy staff to set up an appointment for your first treatment. Appointment times are subject to availability, but staff will do their best to accommodate your specific needs.
If you are late for your appointment, please understand that we are working according to a schedule and will treat patients that are on time first. You will be a@ended to as soon as an opening is available.
On the first day of treatment, you will receive a schedule with all your treatment appointments. Please be here 10 minutes before the scheduled time.
Some additional Information
- The radiotherapists assess you every day on which you receive treatment, so please tell them if you have any difficulties or queries. They can offer you considerable advice.
- During your course of treatment, you will see your radiation oncologist once a week. If he/she is not available for any reason one of the other doctors in the practice will see you if necessary.
- During your treatment, you will also see our counsellor for a free counselling session. We encourage every patient to make use of this service. Ba@ling cancer is tough and we are here to support you.
- After your treatment is completed, you must make a 2 week follow up appointment with your radiation oncologist. This is still part of the treatment and will not have any extra charges
HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR SKIN DURING RADIATION THERAPY
Radiation is a pivotal part of your treatment. We understand it is a stressful time and will be here to assist throughout your treatment.
Before we start radiation, you can do your hygiene routine as per usual, with emphasis on moisturising the skin overlying the treatment area.
Here are a few guidelines we can use to look a>er the skin one week before radiation starts, during and two weeks aFer your treatment:
- No harsh chemicals/parabens/alcohol/sulphate-based products
- No fragranced skin products or soap
- No scours/loofas
- No scratching
- Wear loose and breathable clothing, no tight-fitting clothes/underwear that can chafe the skin.
- CoGon material works well as it is non irritating, breathable and so> on the skin.
- Avoid sun exposure
- Gently pat the skin dry a>er your shower or bath
- Avoid swimming as chlorine can further irritate your sensitive skin
- Mild fragrance-free soap - some suggestions: * Can.Science mild therapy soap or normal/sensitive Dove soap or Epimax soap bar
- RT gel/ Rayon gel - Over clean skin apply a thin layer over the treatment area approximately 60 minutes before treatment to form a protective layer
- Moisturiser - Some suggestions: Can.Science Body Repair cream or SBR repair cream or Aqueous cream twice a day to moisturise, 10 minutes or so a:er the RT gel and again 30 - 40 minutes a5er treatment, if the skin is itchy, place cream in the fridge as the cold assists with the itchiness. If still itchy, take a so: towel put it in ice water and apply the cool wet towel over the treatment area. Please ensure that the towel is clean to prevent infections.
- Can use roll-on deodorant for sensitive skin as the sprays contain alcohol and can burn the skin
- If you have a lot of skinfolds or perspire a lot, you can use a bit of cornstarch as a powder to keep the area dry.
Over the rest of the body (that is not involved in the treatment area) you can use what you normally use.
From the second week of treatment, you will be seeing a doctor once a week to have a look at the skin and assist as needed.
You are welcome to ask questions any time, we will gladly assist. Kindly contact DMO reception if you need anything (Details on next page).