Questions for the doctor
- What's the goal of this treatment?
- How will the radiation therapy be given? Internal or external radiation?
- Will I also need other treatment, like chemotherapy or surgery?
- If so, in what order will the different treatments be given?
- How many radiation treatments will I get? Over what period of time?
- What happens if I have to miss a treatment?
- Where will I get treatment?
- When will radiation start? When will it end?
- How will I feel during radiation?
- How long will radiation take each day?
- Will I be able to carry on my normal activities?
- Will there be limits on what I can do, such as working or exercising?
- How long does it take after the simulation scan to start treatment?
- Do I need to be on a skin care regimen during treatment?
- Can I drive myself to treatments or do I need someone to bring me?
- What are the possible short-term and long-term side effects I should watch for? What side effects should I report?
- Who do I contact for side effects? Is there a different contact number after office hours and on weekends and holidays?
- Are there late side effects I need to know about?
- How long will it take me to recover from the side effects of treatment?
- Will this treatment affect my ability to have children?
- What are the chances treatment will work?
- How will we know if it's working?
- Are there any other treatment choices we should talk about?
- What can I do to get ready for treatment and to take care of myself during treatment?
- Are there any clinical trials that I should think about?
- Does my insurance cover the treatments? Do I have a copay?
- Can I be near children or pets while getting radiation?
- Are there other types of radiation therapy that may work for my cancer?
- Does this center offer the latest technology or methods for radiation treatment?
- Have you and your team treated my kind of cancer before?
- Should I get a second opinion? Do you have someone you can recommend?
- May I use complementary or alternative therapies during radiation?
- Can I take all my usual medicines during treatment?
- Should I change my diet during radiation therapy?
- Where can I learn more about radiation therapy?
Featured in
Compassionate Cancer Care
Learn about our cancer services and meet the specialists who support you at every step at the HPH Cancer Centers.
Meet Our TeamRelated Articles
Intraperitoneal (IP) Therapy for Cancer
Intraperitoneal (IP) therapy is a treatment for cancer in the stomach. Learn more detailed information here.
Cancer of Unknown Primary: Treatment Choices
You may get just one type of treatment or a combination of treatments. Treatment may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, or surgery.
Thyroid Cancer: Radioactive Iodine Therapy
Radioactive iodine therapy uses a form of iodine that sends out radiation to treat thyroid cancer. The goal of this treatment is to target and kill any remaining thyroid cells or thyroid cancer cells anywhere in your body.
Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) of Liver Tumors
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a way to destroy tissue in the body. It can be used as a treatment for cancer. To do it, electricity is sent into a tumor using a needle electrode. The electricity creates heat that kills the cancer cells.
