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How Radiation Therapy and Chemotherapy are Used to Treat Cancer

No body and no cancer is created equal. And no approach to cancer treatment should
be created equal, too. While chemotherapy and radiation therapy are both designed
to treat the body and to fight cancer, each does so in different ways.

Each person's body and each type of cancer can respond to treatments differently,
so this is where an expert-level of care with access to some of the most advanced
treatments, technologies, research, physician specialists and a whole-person
approach to care become so important.

While some patients may only receive chemotherapy or radiation therapy, others may
receive a combination of both, or even additional treatments such as immunotherapy,
more personalized medicine or clinical trials. These are all things that our cancer
experts help patients with every day to offer the best possible outcomes for cancer
treatment, recovery and cure.
Before treatment
You can expect these steps before beginning treatment:

Meeting with your radiation oncologist. The doctor will review your medical
records, perform a physical exam, and recommend tests. You will also learn about
the potential risks and benefits of radiation therapy. This is your opportunity to
ask questions.

Giving permission for radiation therapy. If you choose to receive radiation


therapy, your health care team will ask you to sign an informed consent form.
Signing the document means:

Your team gave you information about your treatment options.

You choose to have radiation therapy.

You give permission for caregivers to deliver the treatment.

You understand the treatment is not guaranteed to give the intended results.

Simulating and planning treatment. The first radiation therapy session is a


simulation. This is a practice run without giving radiation therapy. Your team will
use imaging scans to identify the tumor location. These may include:

A computed tomography (CT) scan

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

An x-ray

Depending on the area being treated, you may receive a small mark on your skin.
This will help your team aim the radiation beam at the tumor.

You may also be fitted for an immobilization device. This could include using:

Tape

Foam sponges

Headrests

Molds

Plaster casts
These items help you stay in the same position throughout treatment.

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