Education

During Treatment

You will arrive for treatment each day at your appointment time, checking in at the front desk and waiting in a private patient waiting area. Lockers are available for storing personal belongings. You will be taken into the treatment room by our radiation therapists, whose job is to position you carefully on the treatment table each day and deliver that day’s treatment.

No radiation is present in the treatment room when you enter. You are positioned on the treatment table in the same way you were for the treatment planning CT scan, usually lying on your back with your head and knees supported. The therapists will carefully position you with some lasers in the room, aligning to the small tattoo marks on your skin.

After positioning, the therapists will leave the room and close the door. They will be able to communicate with you over a microphone system and can see you with a video camera. From outside the room, they will

take an X-ray or CT scan to check your position against the treatment planning CT, making any necessary adjustments to ensure perfect alignment. The machine will then deliver that day’s treatment. You will hear some sounds as this is occurring and will notice the machine moving to different angles around your body. You will not feel pain or discomfort as the treatment is being given and you will not see the radiation, as it is invisible. The treatment lasts about 5 minutes, but expect to spend about 30 minutes each day in our clinic from beginning to end.

When treatment is complete, the therapists will return to the room and you will get up from the treatment table. You are not radioactive or carrying the radiation with you, so you are able to return to your normal daily routine. Many patients can drive themselves to and from their appointments.

One day per week, you will meet with a nurse and your doctor to review your progress or any side effects you may be experiencing. We are also available to speak with you on any day of your treatment and can be reached after hours by phone. You should feel free to make us aware of any concerns you have during treatment. Our goal is to make the treatment as safe and comfortable for you as possible.

Location Lacey building Location Lacey building transformed
RadiantCare Centralia building
Radiation Therapy Center - Location Lacey building