Oncology is the study of tumor and cancers. A radiation oncologist is a doctor who specializes in treating cancer through radiation therapies. The radiation oncologist coordinates with the medical oncologist to determine your cancer treatment plan.
A radiation oncologist decides which radiation treatment is best for you.
His/her goal is to aim the maximum dose of radiation at the tumor, and expose healthy tissue to the minimum amount of radiation. Please note: once you have had radiation therapy to a specific location, you generally cannot have it again to the same specific location. Check to confirm:
- Your radiation oncologist is board certified in radiation oncology.
- How often the radiation machines are monitored by a medical physicist and are they monitored according to the standards of the American College of Radiology?
- When the last time the treatment machine was calibrated.
Your radiation oncologist should be available at all times, day and night. Your radiation oncologist should be a phone call away. Answer all your doctor’s questions truthfully to optimize your breast cancer treatment.
The following are basic questions to ask your radiation oncologist.
BRING A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER TO TAKE NOTES!
- What is the purpose of radiation therapy?
- What are the risks and side effects?
- How many patients with my type of breast cancer have you successfully treated?
- What percentage of patients with my cancer respond to radiation treatment?
- What will I gain or lose by not having radiation treatment now?
- Does radiation affect fertility?
- Will I be radioactive from radiation therapy?
- Where will I receive therapy?
- How long will each radiation session last?
- How many weeks will I need treatment? How many treatments per week?
- Can I drive home from each session?
- What should I avoid during treatment?
- Should I get a second opinion?
For more comprehensive questions, go to:
