If your Radiation Oncologist recommends Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy, it will take place right in your 21st Century Oncology treatment center.
It is very important that you lie in exactly the same position for each treatment session. You may be custom-fitted for a mold that will be used to position you correctly on the treatment table. You may also be tattooed with freckle-like marks that will help the Radiation Therapist precisely target the radiation beams.
During each IMRT session you will lie on the treatment table and your Radiation Therapist will use sophisticated imaging to confirm your exact position. Minor adjustments may be made to the table to ensure exact targeting of the tumor. The radiation delivery system then moves in a circular motion around you; delivering beams from different angles and intensities, shaping them around the tumor. Each treatment session lasts from 10 to 30 minutes. Typically, you will be scheduled for five sessions a week for five to eight weeks. The sessions are pain-free and require no sedation so you can return to your normal activities right away.