Updated on: Sep 14, 2022
Radiation therapy in progress
Radiation therapy treatment room at Grand River Regional Cancer Centre.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation is a type of energy that travels through the air as waves. Radiation therapy uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells or stop them from growing.

If you are offered radiation treatment you will:

  1. Meet with a Radiation Oncologist and be asked to sign a treatment consent form
  2. Be booked for a "Radiation Planning" visit with a Radiation Therapist. At this visit you will have a CT scan which is used to design your treatment plan
  3. Be give between 1 and 40 treatments depending on your plan. They are booked daily from Monday to Friday
  4. Have a schedule printed for you on your first treatment day with all of your visits, dates and times

Radiation Facts

  • Radiation does not hurt, it's like getting an X-Ray
  • Radiation will treat a specific area of your body. Cells nearby may also be affected by the radiation. You will only have side effects in the area that is treatment
  • You will not be radioactive afterwards; you can have normal contact with friends and family
  • Treatments are short, and often take less than 20 minutes
  • You will get to meet with your Radiation Oncologist or Oncology Nurse once a week during your treatment

Radiation Websites:

Acs Rads
Hanout from the American Cancer Society
 

Radiation Therapy For Cancer - American Cancer Society