What is the role of a radiation oncologist in a patient's treatment journey?
Radiation oncologists at Aster CMI provide radiation therapy to patients, helping them recover from hazardous and life-threatening diseases. They play a vital role in patients’ treatment journeys by ensuring they receive top-notch services and treatment for a wide range of cancer types and stages.
How should I prepare for my first visit to a radiation oncologist?
You must prepare by carrying all medical reports and documents related to your cancer stage, type, and previous treatments. Further, carry health insurance cards for financial stability during the treatment, and reach the Aster CMI Hospital before your appointment time to know the overall details of the process.
When should I consider seeing a radiation oncologist?
You must consider seeing a radiation oncologist in Bangalore for post-surgical treatment to ensure that all cancerous cells are killed and have no threat of their recurrence. They also must make appointments when they are diagnosed with the first stage of cancer or have relevant symptoms, like persistent cough, which are often a sign of lung cancer. Primary physicians also recommend radiation oncologists when they see early signs of cancer.
What documents should I carry on my first visit to a radiation oncologist?
Patients are advised to carry their medical history and related documents to their previous cancer treatments. Further, they must also bring a list of current medications they consume, referral letters from doctors, and insurance cards. It helps medical specialists to provide effective comprehensive treatment plans.
What are the most common types of conditions that radiation oncologists treat?
Major conditions that radiation specialists at Aster CMI Hospital treat a wide range of cancer types, including lung cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer. They additionally treat other types of cancer, like liver cancer, leukaemia, head and neck cancer, Sarcomas, colon cancer, brain cancer, and lymphoma.
What advancements or technologies are utilised by radiation oncologists?
Aster CMI Hospital in Bangalore houses top medical devices, equipment, and technologies for diagnosing and treating cancer patients. These include Brachytherapy, Proton therapy, VMAT, CT scans, MRI scans or PET CT scans, and TPS for image assessment. The hospital also uses delivery techniques like Linac, IMRT, IGRT, SRS, and SBRT.
What question should you ask a radiation oncologist?
Patients must ask questions related to their medical conditions and treatments to radiation oncologists in Bangalore. It includes asking for recommended radiation therapy, time when the therapy begins, treatment process, fees included, risks associated, and side effects that may occur during and post-treatment.
How does a radiation oncologist decide on a treatment plan?
Before deciding on a treatment plan, they examine patients’ medical conditions, test results, and reports, and they conduct physical examinations through CT scans, MRIs, and other delivery techniques. They consider the potential risks and benefits of associated radiation therapy treatment plans and get patients’ consent to begin with the treatment.
What does a radiation oncologist do?
Radiation oncologists are experts in providing radiation therapy to cancer patients. They examine their cancer type and stage using various diagnoses. They also determine if the patients require radiation therapy, ensure the amount of appropriate radiation, and monitor their health during the treatment. They also work closely with other medical specialists to provide efficient patient care.
Can radiotherapy cause hair loss on the scalp?
Yes, radiotherapy can cause hair loss only when treating head, brain or scalp of a patient. It means hair loss is a common side effect that occurs in the area being treated with radiotherapy. Usually, hairs will start to fall out 2 to 3 weeks after treatment starts.
In a female, radiotherapy to the breasts will lose hair in the armpit and male hair loss will occur in facial/beard/mustache.
With radiotherapy of the head, brain and scalp, earlier the hair loss used to be permanent due to higher effect on the skin. In the present day, all these situations hairs start to regrow from 6 months to 1year in almost all people. In many it comes to the original level.