Your radiotherapy
Before we can deliver your radiotherapy treatment, we need to design your individual plan.
You will receive an invitation to appointments via e-Boks or letter. There will be two dates, the first will be for planning of your treatment and the second date is your first radiotherapy treatment
Upon arrival please register at our reception desk
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Radiotherapy treatment planning
Your treatment will be planned based on your specific anatomy; therefore, you need to have one or more imaging scans. It may be required to use contrast in your scans.
An hour will have been allocated for each scan, and which type of scan you need will be specified in the appointment invitation. The scans are painless procedures.
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Three scanner modalities
We have 3 types of scans: CT, MR and PET/CT. In addition to a CT scan, it may be necessary to supplement with an MR scan or a PET/CT scan. The type of scan you need will be specified in the appointment letter.
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Your position for radiotherapy will be determined
To deliver the best possible radiotherapy treatment, it is important that you are in the same position each time you come for planning and treatment.
It is required to tattoo a few points on your skin. This ensures that we can re-position the way you lie at the subsequent radiotherapy treatments.
The part of your body that is being treated will be uncovered during planning and treatment.
Planning of radiotherapy in the head & neck area
If you are going to have radiotherapy treatment in the head and neck area, we will make a mask, which fits specifically to you.
The mask material is heated and shaped by your face, neck, and shoulders. After 10 minutes the mask is cooled and maintain the shape of your face. You can see and breath through the mask. The mask will ensure that your head and neck are in the same position at the scan(s) and all subsequent treatments, making the radiotherapy as precise as possible.
Planning of radiotherapy to the torso
If you are going to have radiotherapy treatment to the torso, your arms will be placed on a support above your head. You must lie in this position for up to-20 minutes.
Planning of radiotherapy in the pelvic area
If you are going to have radiotherapy treatment to the pelvic area, you must lie with both legs and feet in a knee and foot support.
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Delineation of the treatment area
When your scan(s) are complete, our radiotherapy team will design a treatment which is specific to you. Your oncologist will use your scans to delineate the area to be treated.
Your final treatment plan and prescription of the radiotherapy dose will be calculated and checked by our oncologists, physicists, and radiographers.
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Information about your radiotherapy
On your first day of radiotherapy, you will be invited for a talk with one of the nurses or radiographers who will be treating you.
The talk will be about your radiotherapy treatment, possible side effects and how to help manage them. You are invited to ask questions and discuss any concerns you may have with regards to in connection with your treatment. You are encouraged to bring a friend or family member for this conversation. You will also be given an overview of your appointments for the subsequent radiotherapy treatments. We try to ensure that you meet the same team of nurses and radiographers throughout your treatment.
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During your radiotherapy treatment
You will not feel the radiation, nor can you see or smell it. Prior to each treatment we ensure you are in the correct position by acquiring x-ray images or a scan. You will hear a low buzz from the accelerator during your treatment. Two radiotherapy trained nurses or radiographers will deliver each of your treatments.
The radiation itself, lasts only a few minutes. However, as we need to programme the equipment and ensure you are setup in the same position, as at planning, the daily treatment time is approximately 15 to 20 minutes.
During the treatment you are alone in the treatment room, but we can see you on cameras and hear you. We can talk to you via speakers if you require. The machine may move around you, but it will never touch you. You have the option to listen to music during your radiotherapy if you wish.
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During your treatment
During the course, of your treatment, you may experience side effects. We have a great deal of knowledge and experience in alleviating the side effects and are keen to help with advice.
If it is necessary to talk to a doctor due to your side effects, we will arrange a doctor’s appointment.
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When your radiotherapy has finished
On completion of your radiotherapy treatments, you will typically have a follow up visit in the department which referred you for radiotherapy. If you do not have an appointment, we will arrange one. We will also provide you with our contact details before you go home.
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