Treatment of cancer involves a team of specialists.

Radiation oncologist: Specialized physician who decides whether or not the patient is a radiation therapy candidate and how the patient would benefit from radiation therapy treatments. The radiation oncologists decide how much to deliver, and explain how radiation therapy works with other treatments you are receiving.  

Radiation therapist: The radiation therapist gives the radiation therapy treatments under the direction of the radiation oncologist. Radiation therapists are specialized in understanding and working with the type of equipment that will be delivering the patients treatments.     

Dosimetrists and Medical Physicists: Highly skilled professionals who are responsible for calculating and computing the doses of radiation. The medical physicists are also responsible verifying weekly, monthly, and annual quality assurance of equipment.  

Oncology Nurses: Registered nurses with emphasis given to oncology related skills to provide complete nursing care.  

Social workers: Social workers are available through the hospital to aid patients with personal and medical needs. 
 
Tumor registrar: The registrar works to maintain cancer registry, organize tumor boards and cancer committee meetings. The Tumor Board is a bi-monthly meeting where patient cases are reviewed by a multidisciplinary team of physicians to discuss treatments and outcomes. The Cancer Committee consists of a multidisciplinary team to discuss the cancer program of the hospital and give direction for its advancement.  

Office staff: Individuals who help with the daily scheduling, billing, and administrative tasks.  

What is Radiation Therapy?
Radiation Therapy is the use of various forms of radiation to safely and effectively threat cancer and other diseases. Radiation Oncologists may use radiation to cure cancer, to control the growth of cancer ro to relieve symptoms, such as pain.

Radiation Therapy can be deliverd in two ways, externally and internally. During external beam radiation therapy, the radiation oncology team uses a linear accelerator to direct high energy X-rays at the cancer. Internal radiation therapy or brachytherapy involve placing radioactive sources inside your body.

What to expect:  

Before Consultation – The Cancer Center staff will collect the patient records required for the physician to review before the consultation visit. Before the Cancer Center can collect the records, the patient must complete a release of information form required by law.  

Consultation - The first visit with the physician will be decision making time for the patient and the physician. The physician will review the patient’s history, current diagnosis and staging, radiological tests, laboratory test and pathology prior to talking with the patient to begin the determination of what type of treatment would best benefit the patient. After reviewing of all the information, the radiation oncologist may recommend radiation therapy as a course of treatment and schedule a return time for simulation.  Specialized physician who decides whether or not the patient is a radiation therapy candidate and how the patient would benefit from radiation therapy treatments. The radiation oncologists decide how much to deliver, and explain how radiation therapy works with other treatments you are receiving.   : The radiation therapist gives the radiation therapy treatments under the direction of the radiation oncologist. Radiation therapists are specialized in understanding and working with the type of equipment that will be delivering the patients treatments.      : Highly skilled professionals who are responsible for calculating and computing the doses of radiation. The medical physicists are also responsible verifying weekly, monthly, and annual quality assurance of equipment.   : Registered nurses with emphasis given to oncology related skills to provide complete nursing care.   : Social workers are available through the hospital to aid patients with personal and medical needs.   : The registrar works to maintain cancer registry, organize tumor boards and cancer committee meetings. The Tumor Board is a bi-monthly meeting where patient cases are reviewed by a multidisciplinary team of physicians to discuss treatments and outcomes. The Cancer Committee consists of a multidisciplinary team to discuss the cancer program of the hospital and give direction for its advancement.   : Individuals who help with the daily scheduling, billing, and administrative tasks.   Radiation Therapy is the use of various forms of radiation to safely and effectively threat cancer and other diseases. Radiation Oncologists may use radiation to cure cancer, to control the growth of cancer ro to relieve symptoms, such as pain.Radiation Therapy can be deliverd in two ways, externally and internally. During external beam radiation therapy, the radiation oncology team uses a linear accelerator to direct high energy X-rays at the cancer. Internal radiation therapy or brachytherapy involve placing radioactive sources inside your body.:  

Simulation – Prior to receiving radiation therapy, the patient will have a planning appointment called simulation. During this appointment, the Radiation Oncologist will direct the Radiation Therapist to perform the test and construction of devices necessary to allow them to customize the shape of the radiation beam to the treatment area or tumor. The patient may receive markings on their skin that remain until the end of treatment. Often a CT will be scheduled directly following the simulation to aid the dosimetry planning.

1. First treatment and frequency of treatments: The first day of treatment usually takes longer due to verifying the position and shape of the customized treatment fields that direct the radiation. After verification, the daily visit for radiation therapy is generally 10 – 20 minutes. Treatments are given daily Monday – Friday, for a few days to several weeks depending on the treatment plan determined by the radiation oncologists.  
2. What are the side effects?  Some patients experience side effects from radiation therapy. Those side effects depend on the area receiving radiation therapy treatments. Effective treatments exist for most side effects and the Radiation Oncologist will monitor your response. Many patients are able to continue to work or other normal daily activities during their course of therapy.    

I Can Cope Cancer Support Group
 The I Can Cope Cancer Support Group is an informational and educational support group designed to assist people and their families in coping with the emotional implications of cancer.  The group meets on the second Tuesday of each month, at 5:30p.m. at the hospital.  For more information, call 573.686.5300 or 800.327.0275.  

Certifications:
American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer Approved Program  
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations