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What To Expect at Community CancerCare

Your Consultation

"Your initial consultation will require some preparation on your part."

Everyone arriving at one of our facilities will have an initial consultation with the radiation oncologist. Pertinent information and diagnostic tests/studies have usually been sent to him/her for evaluation. After reviewing your medical profile, the physician will discuss any potential role of radiation therapy, potential side effects, expected outcomes, and the process of treatment if indicated.

Additional testing procedures may be advised. A medical history and physical examination will be performed on the day of consultation. Family members are encouraged to come with the patient to share in the discussions. Write any questions you may have down before your consultation, because the issues you want to discuss might slip your mind when you're actually in the office. If you think of additional questions when you are back home, call the physician and get your answers. You can expect to be in the facility for at least one hour.

What To Bring

Your initial consultation will require some preparation on your part. You will need to bring:

Health insurance card with your policy number and name of policyholder (spouse or other family member whose name is on the insurance policy), and policyholder's social security number.
A picture ID preferably a valid driver's license or a state issued picture identification.

Referral authorization letter, if you are in an HMO or PPO.

Medical History Questionnaire, this is mailed to you prior to your appointment

Referring physician's name, address and phone number. The names and telephone numbers of all other physicians currently involved in your care including that of your primary care physician.

List of medications you currently take (including over-the counter medicines). Please include the strength and dose of each medication.
Available films and other tests results.

Simulation

Once the physician prescribes the type and amount of radiation that best suits the patient's needs, a simulation procedure will be scheduled. During this procedure a CT or fluoroscope may be utilized to identify the tumor and mark the treatment area. Also, various angles and measurements are calculated and the more technical aspects of the treatments are planed from these films and calculations. This procedure may take as little as 30 minutes or as much as two hours, depending on the complexity. Prior to the patient's first treatment, customized lead blocks may be fabricated from these planning films to protect normal tissues as much as possible.

Treatment Days

Radiation treatments are usually given Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.

Daily appointment times are scheduled by the radiation therapists and they try to accommodate everyone's requests for particular times. Your appointment time will usually be the same throughout your course of treatment (examples: Daily at 10:15 a.m. or daily at 3:30 p.m.) During a course of treatment (typically 4 to 6 weeks), patients will see the physician/nurse to assess their progress and to determine if they are experiencing any problems related to the treatments. Additionally, our staff remains available at any time for problems that may arise.

Dress comfortably. Eating breakfast or lunch before treatment is fine. Any other special instructions will be given to the patient by the doctor prior to that treatment.

Do not bring valuable items such as jewelry or watches. During the examination and treatment, you will have to remove them, and we cannot be responsible for these valuables.

Rescheduling An Appointment

If you must see our radiation oncologist on a day other than your regularly scheduled day, please let our nurse or therapist know. They will help you arrange a different time for the physician meeting.

It is essential that you do not skip any treatments or other clinic appointments. Therefore, if you must reschedule your appointment, please call us as soon as possible. (One day advance notice is helpful.) Your therapist or nurse will advise you of any schedule changes due to major holidays.

Follow-Up Visits

Patients may be scheduled for post-treatment checkups one month following completion of radiation. This appointment is established to make sure that the patient is recovering from the treatments and to assess the response of the disease. Additional appointments may be scheduled at that time, on an individual basis. X-rays and lab work may also be ordered during these visits.

Additionally, we encourage patients to return to their primary care doctor and referring physician for regular follow-up.

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