Patient Info
What to expect when coming to the Center for Cancer Treatment & Prevention at Sacred Heart Hospital
Patients arriving at the center will first need to register at the front desk. You will be asked to show the receptionist a copy of your insurance card and fill out a few forms regarding your medical history and any medications you are taking.
A medical assistant will then take you to an exam room to review your medical history and take your height, weight, temperature, pulse and blood pressure before the doctor comes in to see you.
The cancer provider (radiation oncologist, medical oncologist or physician assistant/nurse practitioner) will come in to see you next. He or she will examine you, explain treatment options and answer questions you may have regarding your disease and treatment plan. The doctor may also order other tests such as x-rays or laboratory work that will be helpful in determining your treatment plan.
If you are seeing the Radiation Oncologist
If you are seeing the Radiation Oncologist, he or she will advise whether or not radiation therapy will be beneficial to you. If you are to receive radiation treatments, your radiation oncologist will explain the radiation therapy procedure, which includes: length of treatments, how many treatments, possible side effects and the simulation, which is a pre-treatment plan.
If radiation therapy is advised, and you choose to proceed, a simulation will be arranged. A simulation includes marking your skin with a few small dot-like tattoos to aide the radiation therapists in aligning your body for daily treatment. The simulation takes anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours.
Your first appointment for radiation treatments will be given to you after your simulation. Your first treatment will be scheduled a few days to a few weeks following the simulation. During that interval, your treatment planning will be done by the radiation oncologist, dosimetrist and the medical physicist. You will see the radiation therapy nurse for further information on radiation and self-care during treatment.
Your first treatment will normally last 30 minutes. Included in your first day of treatment will be verification x-rays of the localized area, as well as the delivery of your first treatment.
After your first treatment, you will arrange a daily appointment time. These treatments will take about 15-20 minutes. Once a week you will see the radiation oncologist who will check your progress and be available for any concerns you may have.
If you are seeing the Medical Oncologist
A medical oncologist is a physician who uses medications to treat patients with various types of cancer. Medications may be chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, immunotherapy or molecular-based intervention. Also, the medical oncologist often continues managing complications of cancer even when the cancer itself is no longer actively treated.
When you meet with your medical oncologist, he or she will explain your treatment options, which may include standard treatments and possible participation in a clinical research trial, if you are eligible and interested. You will also discuss how the chosen treatment will affect your cancer and what side effects you may experience.
If chemotherapy or other treatments requiring intravenous injections are advised, and you choose to proceed, an appointment will be arranged. A chemotherapy nurse will explain your treatment, review your current health status and blood test results and then administer your treatment.
Just as there are many different types of cancer, there are also many different chemotherapy drugs and other medications the medical oncologist uses to treat cancer. The timeframe of each treatment varies and is explained to each patient individually.
The medical oncologists and their supporting team are dedicated to providing the best medical care possible for their patients, in an environment that is tailored to providing maximum comfort for patients and families in their cancer journey.