Treatment

External beam radiation treatments are painless; its like getting an x-ray. The treatments are usually scheduled five days a week, Monday - Friday and continue for 3-8 weeks. The exact number of treatments is determined by the radiation oncologist and the length of time to deliver those treatments depends on the individual.

It takes about 5 – 15 minutes for patients to be positioned for treatment and for the equipment to be set up. Remember, the position used during CT simulation is the same used for treatment. Once a patient is positioned accurately, the therapist will leave the room and go into an adjoining control room where the patient will be closely monitored on a television screen and intercom.  It is very important for the patient to remain still until the therapist tells them it's okay to move. The machine can be stopped at any time if a patient is feeling ill, happen to cough or is uncomfortable.

Once a week, the radiation oncologist and nurse will visit with the patient in an exam room to follow their progress, evaluate any side effects, recommend treatments for those side effects, and address any concerns the patient may have. This is a great time to have family members join for discussion with the physician. The physician and nurse are available on other days and available as needs arise.

The staff of Southwest Minnesota Radiation Center is here for every patient and their family. If you have any questions, please ask.