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Patient & Family Education, Cancer
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What to expect during your first visit

What is Planning and Simulation?

Your first visit to the radiation therapy department is called Planning and Simulation. This appointment is to plan your radiation treatments. This visit may last up to 2 hours.

Please arrive at least 15 minutes before your first treatment appointment time. Check-in is in the basement floor, Odette Cancer Centre, room TB 100, across from the north elevators. Please bring your health card to check-in at reception.

How do I prepare for radiation planning?

  • Your doctor(s) will decide which tests may need to be done before your external radiation treatment can be planned.
  • You may be asked to bring x-rays that were not done at Sunnybrook.
  • Your radiation oncologist will discuss your treatment with you and have you sign a consent form for the treatment. If you think you may be pregnant you must inform a member of your treatment team.
  • You may be asked to follow special instructions about having your bladder full or empty before you come to your planning appointment.
  • All pelvis patients are asked to come to planning with an empty rectum and full bladder (no poo in bowels and drink lots of water).
  • If your physician has not given you any special instructions please follow your regular routine before arriving for your appointment.
  • Please bring a list of any medications that you are taking.

What will happen during simulation?

  • A radiation therapist will verify your personal information and take you to a machine called the simulator. You will be asked to change into a blue hospital gown and take off any jewellery within the treatment area. You may see your doctor before simulation. A radiation therapist will explain what will happen during your simulation. Please feel free to ask any questions. A digital photo of you will be taken for the hospital chart.
  • You will be asked to lie on the simulator bed in the same position as you will be in for your treatment. The simulator is used to outline the area for radiation treatment using x-rays. You will not feel anything during simulation when the machine is taking x-rays. It is important to keep still during simulation.
  • Measurements of the area to be treated are taken to help plan your treatment. We will also be taking a digital photo of your position and treatment area for our treatment record.
  • Please ask questions at any time. We are here to help.
  • Some patients may require a special piece of equipment to help them stay in the treatment position. This equipment will be made for you before simulation, if needed.
  • During simulation a radiation therapist will put some marks on your skin using a marking pen. These marks will wash off your skin, so we need to make some marks that will stay on your skin. These permanent marks we make are called tattoos. Tattoos are made with sterile ink and a sterile needle. These marks are very small; they are 1-2 mm (1/16th inch) and are permanent. You will feel a slight pinch where the tattoos are given. If you have any questions about these tattoos please ask.

How will I feel after the simulation?

  • You will not feel any pain from the simulation.
  • The tattoos we have given you are permanent, so do not worry if the skin marks wash off.

We have an audio and written translation guide for radiation planning:

Cantonese Gujarati Persian Tamil
English Italian Spanish Urdu
French Mandarin Tagalog

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