Frequently Asked Questions About IMRT

How does radiation therapy work?
Cancer cells grow and divide more rapidly than many of the normal cells around them. High doses of radiation have proven particularly effective in destroying cancer cells and shrinking tumors. Although some normal cells are affected by radiation therapy, they recover from the effects of radiation better than cancer cells.

What benefits does IMRT provide?
With IMRT, our Radiation Oncologists can more safely and successfully treat a specific cancer. This new technology means we can target the cancer with a precise radiation beam that conforms as closely as possible to the shape of the tumor. IMRT treats tumors that physicians once considered untreatable because they are so close to vital organs and structures.

The higher dose to the tumor can result in a higher possibility of a cure, and the lower dose to surrounding normal tissues can result in fewer radiation treatment side effects. For example, IMRT delivers radiation so precisely to head and neck tumors that the spinal cord, optic nerve, salivary glands, and other important structures are minimally exposed. In prostate cancer cases, IMRT reduces radiation to the bladder and rectum. Thanks to IMRT, physicians can now more safely treat tumors in the brain, central nervous system, head, neck, pancreas, prostate and throat.

What can I expect with IMRT?
Our Radiation Oncologists design an individualized IMRT treatment plan for each patient. Before beginning IMRT treatments, the patient attends a preparation session. During this session, X-ray exams and a CT exam will be performed in order to help doctors design a specialized treatment course. Also, in order to help them align the IMRT equipment with the target area in future treatments, the doctors may mark the target area on the patient’s skin with colored, semi-permanent ink or a small tattoo.

In order to keep the IMRT equipment aligned with the target area, the patient must sustain a set position during treatments and keep very still. To prevent the patient from feeling uncomfortable during treatments, the doctor may use the preparation session to develop special, molded devices that help the patient keep the same position.
The treatment preparation session may take from 30 minutes to an hour, and the CT scan may take an additional 15 to 30 minutes.

After the treatment planning session, the doctor will design a treatment that is right for the patient’s specific needs. This process may take several days. When the plan is complete, radiation treatments will begin.

The first IMRT session lasts longer than subsequent appointments because the doctor will perform additional X-rays and checks. A typical IMRT session lasts about 20-30 minutes, the same amount of time required for a standard radiation treatment.

In the treatment room, the patient will see a machine called a medical linear accelerator, which stands approximately 9-feet tall and is nearly 15 feet long. The linear accelerator can be rotated around the patient’s body with great precision. The radiation therapist will use the semi-permanent ink marks on the patient’s skin, made during the planning session, to locate the treatment area and to properly position the patient on the table below the machine.

Before the machine is turned on, the radiation therapist will leave the room. The linear accelerator is controlled remotely, although the therapist can still see and talk to the patient. Patients do not see or hear the radiation and usually will not feel anything. However, if for any reason the patient feels uncomfortable, the machine can be stopped at any time.

The comfort and well being of our patients are our primary concerns. If you have any questions at any point during IMRT planning or treatment, please share them with us.

How many treatments will I need?
Usually, radiation therapy is given five days a week for seven to nine weeks. Radiation treatments are designed to use small amounts of radiation over a series of several days in order to help protect normal body tissues in the treatment area.

As IMRT is specially designed for each patient, treatments will vary depending on the patient’s specific needs. The doctor will discuss each stage of treatment with the patient and will help them understand the overall treatment plan.

Are there any side effects with IMRT?
The potential side effects of radiation therapy primarily depend upon the treatment dose and the part of the body that is treated. Common side effects of radiation therapy are fatigue, skin changes at the site where the treatment is given, loss of appetite, nausea and diarrhea. Sometimes when the rectum is in the radiation field, patients might experience rectal bleeding and blood in the stools. IMRT is utilized to decrease the risk and severity of these side effects.

Most of the side effects that occur during radiation therapy are not serious. Side effects usually disappear within a few weeks after the treatment ends. The doctor will discuss any side effects with the patient and work with them throughout treatment to prevent or control side effects through medication or diet.

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