Treatment
Simulation

0 to 3 days

0 to 10 days 

1 day to 8 weeks 

• Decide on the position you will need to be in  during your treatment
• Design treatment accessories such as a face mask if necessary
• Obtain a CT-scan of the body area(s) needing treatment
• Mark your body with 1 to 5 small tattoo (permanent dots of ink the size of a freckle)

• Outline the body area(s) to define the area of treatment and  organs to avoid
• Design a treatment plan and calculate radiation doses
• Confirm the number of treatments needed and approve the radiation prescription
• Perform several independent checks to ensure the quality of the plan and that the machines can safely deliver treatment
• You do not need to be present for treatment planning

• Help you into the position chosen at the time of CT simulation
• Obtain images to confirm you are in the correct position
• Deliver your radiation treatment
• Provide you with counseling and education on how to manage symptoms

• Assess your symptoms
• Review any side effects you may be experiencing
• Make adjustments to your  treatment plan if needed
• Provide medical assistance as required
• Refer you to other support services

The first treatment appointment is typically 30 to 45 minutes per area treated

The following treatments are usually 15 to 30 minutes

Plan to be in the department for at least an hour and allow yourself 15 minutes prior to your appointment time to check in and prepare for treatment

The scheduled weekly visits are typically 10 to 15 minutes in length

When your radiation oncologist holds a review clinic,  plan to be in our department for 1 extra hour in addition to your regular treatment appointment time

• We need to obtain CT images to design a treatment plan and calculate radiation doses specific to your anatomy
• We need to ensure the position can be reproduced every day on the treatment machine to deliver the radiation accurately

• We need to ensure that the body area to be treated is getting the maximum dose, while minimizing the impact to the healthy surrounding tissues
• We need to visualize how the radiation will enter and exit your body.  This helps us to determine the angles the machine will take and how long the radiation treatment needs be

• Radiation is used to kill cancer cells while avoiding as much normal tissue as possible. It can also be used to provide symptom/pain relief
• The images obtained during your treatment ensure that the radiation beam is aimed at the right area
• Radiation is painless when being delivered
• You will not be radioactive after the treatment is complete

• We need to ensure you are tolerating the treatment
• We need to monitor and manage any  side effects
• We want  to assist you with any questions or concerns

• We have 2 CT-simulators at the General Campus and 1 CT-simulator at the IGFCC
• Appointments are typically offered from Monday to Friday, between 8 am and 4 pm

• We have treatment planning suites at both campuses. The information required to plan each treatment is available electronically. Your treatment plan can be accessed from either campus by any member of the radiation therapy team.

• To provide treatment for the most common cancers, we have 6 state-of-the art Elekta Linear Accelerators at the General Campus and 3 at the IGFCC Campus
• Specialized treatment units such as cyberknife, tomotherapy, brachytherapy, and orthovoltage are only available at the General Campus. To find out if any of these technologies are right for your treatment needs, a physician referral is required
• Appointments are typically offered from Monday to Friday, between 7:45 am and 5:15 pm
• We offer on-call and emergency radiation therapy services after hours and on weekends for patients with urgent , cancer-related symptoms who may benefit from immediate treatment

• We have 2 review clinics (in Radiation South and North) at the General Campus and 1 at the IGFCC.
• There is a block of time reserved  in the morning or afternoon for your radiation oncologist to see patients.  You will be asked to stop by on a weekly basis before or after your treatment appointment

• The Radiation Booking Clerk coordinates all appointments related to radiation therapy
• The Radiation Receptionist will register you and provide instructions on how to prepare for your appointment and where to wait
• The Radiation Therapists will perform the CT-simulation procedure and provide you with education
• The Radiation Nurses will prepare and monitor you if you require a contrast or dye injected as part of your CT-scan procedure

• The Radiation Oncologist identifies where the radiation should be aimed, which organs should be avoided, and gives the final approval for both the radiation prescription and treatment plan
• The Treatment Planner or Dosimetrist  designs a plan to focus the radiation beam using different angles and shielding pattern
• The Medical Physicists ensure the quality of the treatment plan and the safe operation of all radiation equipment

• The Radiation Receptionist will greet you and provide you with instructions on how to prepare for your treatment. They can also assist you with any appointment changes
• The Radiation Therapists deliver the treatment and can provide you with counseling and support on managing your side-effects

• The Radiation Oncologist or Resident (a specialist in training)  have a dedicated morning or afternoon clinic once a week to see their patients
• Radiation Nurses are available to help you manage your symptoms