Oncology Radiation Treatment—What to Expect

What would you do if a close family member or friend recently was diagnosed with cancer and radiation has been recommended to treat the disease? You’ve heard that radiation can be difficult, but some say they have had minimal problems with it. What does it mean to undergo radiation treatments, and how hard are they on the patient?

“Learning that radiation will be part of one’s cancer treatment plan is typically overwhelming,” says Dr. Victor Chen, a UCSF radiation oncologist who treats cancer patients at the UCSF – Washington Cancer Center in Fremont. “It’s important for the patient and his/her family to understand what radiation treatment entails — from the first consultation meeting with the radiation oncologist through the final treatment and follow-up visits.”

Dr. Chen will discuss how radiation treatments are conducted and personalized for each patient at a Wednesday, Aug. 13, Washington Health online seminar, “Radiation Treatments and Technology.” The free 5 p.m. Health & Wellness seminar can be accessed on Facebook.com/WashingtonHealth1 or YouTube.com/@Washington Health.

The Washington Radiation Oncology Center offers the latest technology delivering a broad array of powerful radiation oncology therapies with high accuracy and precision. The machine provides extremely fast treatment times, with most patients being able to complete their daily radiation treatment in as little as five or 10 minutes. Furthermore, it treats tumors with pinpoint precision as it checks accuracy every 10 milliseconds, Dr. Chen explains.

Before treatment begins, the patient meets with the radiation oncologist and the nursing team for an hour-long consultation. The radiation oncologist reviews the patient’s history, medical records, symptoms and all lab work and imaging results. Treatment options are presented and discussed with the patient, along with a full overview of the benefits, side effects, and alternatives to radiation treatment.

Radiation treatments are individualized and personalized — not only to the type of cancer and its location in the body, but also to the needs of the patient. A key question, Dr. Chen notes, is what does the patient want to achieve given the type and severity of their cancer? While most look to radiation as a curative treatment, some with advanced cancer may seek palliative results to improve their overall quality of life and reduce their symptom burden.

“It’s important that the doctor and the patient are clear about the patient’s options and goals,” he adds. He encourages all patients to bring a family member or friend to the consultation appointment as a great deal of information is shared during this visit, and it is often helpful to have an additional set of eyes and ears.

Patients are then walked through the entire treatment process so they understand from the beginning what the treatment entails. What does the machine look like and how is it operated; what is the timeline for a typical treatment appointment; what should the patient expect regarding side effects and when might they begin?

Dr. Chen notes that radiation treatment-related side effects are different for each patient, and depend on many factors, including the area of the body receiving radiation treatment as well as the total number of treatments being recommended. Because of this, information that patients read online may not be accurate for their individual situation. “We want the patient to have as complete an understanding of the proposed treatment as possible so as not to be surprised or upset by what occurs,” he explains.

The Washington Radiation Oncology Center is part of the UCSF - Washington Cancer Center, a collaborative affiliation between Washington Health and UCSF Health that began in 2017. Dr. Chen shares, “The location allows us to deliver academic-level care to our diverse community locally, so that residents in the area are able to receive exceptional, accessible, and personalized cancer care without having to travel across the Bay.”

For more information on this and other upcoming Health & Wellness seminars, visit WashingtonHealth.com/Events.