During this time, the patient is monitored on a closed circuit television system. After the first field has been completed, the therapist will return and rotate the linear accelerator to the appropriate angle of the second treatment field. The process is repeated until all the designed treatment fields have been completed. The total time patients spend in the treatment room on a daily basis averages around 15 minutes. Patients typically have no sensation of the radiation during the actual time the treatments are delivered.
Patients typically get off the treatment table feeling identical to when they got on.
After completing treatments, patients can safely leave and drive themselves home or back to work. One day a week, patients briefly meet with their radiation oncologist following treatment to review any new questions and to monitor the side effects of treatment. The radiation oncologist is also available every treatment day, if the patient develops a problem. The radiation treatment course typically runs five to seven weeks. Treatments need to be given in a relatively uninterrupted fashion.