When you have radiotherapy, your treatment is planned carefully and specifically for you. The number of pre-treatment steps will depend on the area of the body being treated. This will all be explained to you at your consultation appointment.
The radiotherapy scheduling department will book these appointments with you by phone. We will give you a full explanation of any specific preparations you need to complete before these appointments.
As part of your planning sessions we will ask you to have a photograph taken. This is to help us identify you throughout your course of treatment.
We will ask your name and date of birth each time you attend the department to confirm identity.
CT and MRI scans
The radiographers will take pictures and measurements using scanning equipment – this will be either a CT or MRI scan. These images are used to plan exactly where treatment needs to be delivered.
Skin marks
During these appointments the radiographers will draw marks on your skin to use for the accurate positioning of your treatment.
Most patients have tiny permanent marks made on the skin. On the rare occasion that a patient is unable to have permanent marks, your skin will be marked with a special ink pen.
This special ink must not be washed off until your radiographer tells you it is ok to do so.
Mould room appointments
We may need to make a bespoke mould or mask for your radiotherapy treatment. This is to keep you in the correct position or to protect parts of your body around the treatment area.
You will need to visit the mould room for this part of your treatment.
Types of mould
Thermo plastic
This process uses a sheet of plastic net that, when heated in warm water, becomes soft and stretchy. The mask is made by placing this over your body and feels a little like a warm flannel. It takes your shape as the plastic cools, this takes a few minutes.
This process usually requires one appointment.
Vacuum bags
These are used to help keep your arm, shoulder or body in the treatment position. They are polystyrene ball filled bags, similar to a bean bag.
You will lie on one of these bags in the treatment position and when you are comfortable the air is removed from the bag to make a rigid support moulded to your shape. This will make sure that you are in exactly the same position for each treatment.
Other devices
Occasionally bespoke devices are made for specialised treatments. If you require one of these your doctor will discuss this with you and the mould room technicians will explain the procedure to you.
Your treatment plan
We will use the detailed information from your CT/MRI appointments along with your previous X-rays or scans to help plan your treatment.
Careful planning makes sure that the radiotherapy is as effective as possible. Advanced computer simulations calculate the dose of radiation you will be given. This ensures the x-rays are aimed precisely at the cancer and cause the least possible damage to the surrounding healthy tissue.
This process of producing your individual treatment plan can take around two weeks.
