Starting Radiation Therapy Cancer Treatment

Radiotherapy at Icon

We understand that starting radiotherapy can be very overwhelming. Knowing what to expect can help you prepare for treatment and ease any anxiety you may be feeling.

At Icon, we believe in a personal approach to radiotherapy. This means that you will receive a personalised radiotherapy plan for your specific needs.

Watch the video below to learn more about your first day of radiation therapy at Icon from our care team and patients.

Your first visit

At your first appointment, you will meet with your radiation oncologist who will talk you through your diagnosis and treatment plan, including time frames. The type of radiotherapy you receive and the length of your treatment will depend on the type of cancer you have, your preferences and your general health. Make sure to ask any questions that will help you gain a good understanding of your diagnosis. Our team will be here to address them anytime during your treatment.

We encourage you to bring a family member, friend or carer to be part of this discussion. They can be there for support and can also ask any questions you may not think of. It’s normal to feel some anxiety at this time, and we are here to help you and your family work through this.

What do I need to bring with me?

Completed Registration, Medical History and Consent to Collect Information forms (unless these have already been provided to the centre)

Current referral letter from your referring practitioner (unless this has already been provided to the centre)

A list of your current medications including names, doses and frequency (your pharmacist will be able to provide you with an up-to-date list, or you may choose to bring in original packaging and scripts)

All X-rays, CTs, MRIs, bone and other radiological or nuclear medicine scans/reports you have obtained during the investigation of your medical condition

Pathology reports for blood and histopathology tests (your referring doctor may send these directly to us or give them to you)

Your radiotherapy planning session

Radiotherapy planning, also called a simulation session, is the first step in your radiation treatment. It is a practice run of your treatment without any radiation involved. At your appointment, our care team will review your personal medical history to determine the most appropriate way to treat you. This may take two to four hours and can involve multiple appointments.

A radiation therapist will collect you from the waiting room and may ask you to change into a gown before they take you into the simulation room. During this session, your care team will determine your radiotherapy treatment position. This will involve using a CT scanner, which identifies the exact location of your cancer and surrounding structures to localise the areas you are having treated. Extra equipment may be required to identify a specific position.

As this position needs to be accurately repeated throughout your treatment, you may require very small permanent and/or non-permanent marks to assist with this process. Any marks needed for your treatment will be fully explained during your planning session.

At the end of your planning session, your care team will talk to you about the session and answer any questions you may have. Your radiation therapist or nurse will discuss how to care for your skin during radiotherapy and suggest appropriate clothing to wear during treatment. They will also let you know if you will need to prepare for your treatment before each appointment (for example, if you need to have a full or empty bladder).

Immobilisation masks and how they're made for treatment

Depending on the location of your cancer, you may also need an immobilisation device such as a mask to ensure you stay as still as possible throughout treatment.

Learn more about immobilisation masks and how they are made ahead of your radiation therapy treatment.

Learn more

What to expect during your radiotherapy treatment

Radiation therapists are responsible for delivering your treatment. When starting radiotherapy, you will be set up in the same position you were in at your radiotherapy planning appointment. This might be checked with a CT scan or X-ray.

Once you have been correctly positioned, your radiation therapist will operate the machine from a control centre outside of the room. They will be there to monitor you throughout the treatment. There are microphones present if you need to speak with your radiation therapists.

You will not feel or see the radiation during your treatment, but you will hear the machine operating. It is important that you remain still until you are told that you can move. Each treatment session will only last 15 to 20 minutes.

Radiotherapy is scheduled over an extended period of time, usually from weeks to months, to ensure your sessions are as short as possible and that healthy cells can recover. Regular reviews will occur throughout your treatment. This is to ensure the treatment is progressing well and allow for any changes to your planned course of treatment. Nurses will regularly check in with you at your appointments to see how you are feeling and provide information and support.

Frequently asked questions

External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) does not make you radioactive, and it is perfectly safe for you to be with and around other people, including children, throughout your treatment.
Your individual radiotherapy treatment plan has been carefully calculated, so it is important that you do not miss any appointments. However, if missing an appointment is unavoidable, please discuss this with your radiation therapists as soon as you can.
Radiotherapy is a local treatment, meaning it only affects the area of the body where the radiation is targeted. Unless your radiation treatment is targeted at an area where hair grows, such as your scalp or face, you will not lose your hair. People having radiotherapy for breast cancer may find their underarm hair will fall out if it is near the radiated area, however it will grow back in time.
Yes, it is safe for you to drive after you receive radiotherapy treatment. However, if you feel unfit or unwell to do so, please advise a team member immediately.
This depends on where you are having treatment. If you are a woman having radiotherapy to the abdomen or pelvis, the amount of radiation absorbed by the ovaries will determine the potential impact on your fertility. Radiation to the pituitary gland may also influence fertility, as the pituitary gland normally signals the ovaries to ovulate. Radiation to both testes in men is rare, however if you require this therapy your fertility may be affected. Your doctor will talk to you about how your treatment may impact your fertility. Please speak with your radiation oncologist should you or your partner wish to become pregnant, or if you have fertility concerns.
It is important you are not pregnant or become pregnant at any time during radiotherapy, as x-rays for positioning can harm the foetus. If you think you may be pregnant at any time, it is extremely important to discuss this with a member of the therapy team. If you wish to become pregnant after your treatment please discuss this with your radiation oncologist prior to commencing.
For men having radiotherapy to their pelvic region, it is advised that you do not father children during treatment. Radiotherapy may damage your sperm, which can lead to birth abnormalities. If you wish to father children after this treatment, please discuss this with your radiation oncologist prior to commencing.
People who receive radiotherapy may experience skin dryness, itching, blistering, or peeling. These usually resolve a few weeks after treatment has finished. A common side effect is fatigue, a feeling of exhaustion that does not improve with rest. Your level of fatigue may depend on whether you are undergoing other treatments, such as chemotherapy. Although most side effects go away after radiotherapy has finished, some long-term effects may occur.
As radiotherapy is localised to an area of the body, you may only experience side effects in this area. Your radiation oncologist and treatment team will discuss the type of side effects you may experience, however it is important to advise of any effects you notice.
If you have radiotherapy to your abdominal region, you may get an upset stomach and feel nauseated. This will usually resolve when your course of treatment is completed. If you notice you are feeling nauseated for a prolonged period of time, please inform our team so we can suggest ways to manage this.
Radiotherapy is typically painless and most patients will feel little to no discomfort during treatment. You will not see the radiation, but you may hear noise from the equipment. Please tell the radiation therapist if the position is causing you pain or is making you feel unwell.
Radiotherapy is scheduled over an extended period of time, usually from weeks to months, enabling sessions to be as short as possible and for healthy cells to recover. A treatment session may only last 15 to 20 minutes, however you may need to attend other appointments, such as seeing your radiation oncologist.