PATIENT INFORMATION Welcome to Central Alabama Radiation Oncology Thank you for choosing the Central Alabama Radiation Oncology, LLC for your health care services. We are committed to providing world-class care and would like to make your visit with us as pleasant as possible. In this section, you will find information to help make your treatment process at CARO seamless one. We have included instructions on what information you will need for your first visit, patient forms, frequently asked questions, HIPPA and Privacy, and a link to the patient portal where you can fill out your new patient forms online. If there are other questions that we can address, please give us a call at (334) 395-2200 or email us at info@carollc.com. NEWLY DIAGNOSED PATIENT PORTAL FORMS / BILLING COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions Can you briefly describe what it means to be 'immune compromised'? Does a history of cancer raise your risk for health complications from COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2)? Does having received chemotherapy or radiation in the past raise your risk for getting COVID-19 or having a more serious course of illness? Should cancer survivors follow the general public health recommendations issued by the CDC? What advice do you have for patients who are on oral cancer therapies such as TKIs? Are people who are on endocrine therapies, such as for breast or ovarian cancers, at more risk for getting COVID-19 or having a more serious illness? If a cancer patient or cancer survivor feels some early symptoms such as fever or cough, should they contact their medical oncologist or primary care physician? If a person is about to start cancer therapy, should they consider postponing treatment due to COVID-19? What if the patient has been infected with COVID-19? I have a central venous catheter/port. What should I do about flushing it regularly? I am a survivor of cancer who receives regular scans/imaging/tests to detect potential recurrence. Should I keep getting this testing? What else can I do to help fight COVID19? Is there anything I can do to improve my general health and my immune system? If I have a delay in care, or if for some reason I need to change providers to receive care, is there anything I should do with respect to my medical records? I am in the process of diagnosis and staging for cancer. What should I do? I want to get a second opinion on my diagnosis or recommended therapy, but second opinions are not possible right now. What can I do? I have several comorbidities as well as cancer. Am I at higher risk for COVID-19? Does it matter if those comorbidities are controlled by medication? Does smoking and/or vaping increase the risk of COVID-19? Do most people have long-term effects from COVID-19? What about antibody testing to see who has been exposed to or is immune to COVID-19? It has been said that COVID-19 can cause lung scarring. Are there other diseases that cause lung scarring? Will this increase the chance of a person developing lung cancer in the future? What are the recommendations for retesting of COVID-positive patients before restarting chemotherapy? Frequently Asked Questions What is Radiation Therapy? How does radiation work? Will the treatment hurt? Can it be felt? Does the treatment make me radioactive? What are the risks of radiation therapy? Will I experience side effects from radiation therapy? What are the possible side effects? Will I become sick during treatment? Will I lose my hair? How long will I be treated? Who gives the radiation treatments? Can a friend or family member come with me? Will radiation treatment affect my regular routine? Will I be alone during radiation therapy? What is brachytherapy used for? Cancer Types Brain Cancer In the United States, more than 20,000 new cases of brain cancer are reported each year. Brain tumors are abnormal growths of cells in the brain. There are two types of brain cancer, primary and metastatic. Primary brain cancer originates in the brain and it occurs when one type of cell transforms from its normal characteristics. Once transformed, the cells grow and multiply in abnormal ways. As the abnormal cells grow, they become a mass or tumor. Metastatic brain cancer tumors are made from cancerous cells from a tumor located elsewhere in the body. This is the most common type of brain cancer. At Central Alabama Radiation Oncology, we treat both primary and metastatic brain cancer. A patient diagnosed with a brain tumor, whether the tumor is primary or metastatic, will have a custom made facemask to aid with their radiotherapy treatments. The mask has holes throughout it so that the patient can both see and breathe freely. The number of treatments a patient receives is dependent on the doctor’s review of their specific case. Breast Cancer Head and Neck Cancer Lung Cancer Prostate Cancer Other Cancers Helpful Links We hope you find the following links helpful as you research your diagnosis or that of your loved one. For more than 100 years, the American Cancer Society has worked relentlessly to save lives and create a world with less cancer and more birthdays. VISIT SITE The American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) is dedicated to improving patient care through education, clinical practice, advancement of science and advocacy. VISIT SITE SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGHS The American Society of Clinical Oncology is a professional organization representing physicians of all oncology subspecialties who care for people with cancer. VISIT SITE The National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is one of 11 agencies that compose the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It is established under the National Cancer Institute Act of 1937 and is the Federal Government’s principal agency for cancer research and training. VISIT SITE Breastcancer.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the mission to help women and their loved ones make sense of the complex medical and personal information about breast health and breast cancer, so they can make the best decisions for their lives. VISIT SITE The National Breast Cancer Foundation was founded in 1991 by breast cancer survivor, Janelle Hail. NBCF continues to grow every year to help more and more women around the world by educating them about breast cancer and providing free mammograms to women in need. VISIT SITE The mission of the Breast Cancer Alliance is to fund innovative breast cancer research and to promote breast health through education and outreach. VISIT SITE OncoLink was founded in 1994 by Penn cancer specialists with a mission to help cancer patients, families, health care professionals and the general public get accurate cancer-related information at no charge. VISIT SITE The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship‘s mission is to advocate for quality cancer care for all people touched by cancer. VISIT SITE Cancer.Net provides timely, comprehensive, oncologist-approved information from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), with support from the Conquer Cancer Foundation. Cancer.Net brings the expertise and resources of ASCO to people living with cancer and those who care for and about them to help patients and families make informed health care decisions. VISIT SITE Montgomery Cancer Center is devoted to women’s health, providing advanced screening, diagnostic and treatment services all under one roof. VISIT SITE Carmichael Imaging offers advanced digital imaging services, including MRIs, CAT scans, PET/CT scans, nuclear medicine, digital X-rays and diagnostic ultrasounds. VISIT SITE Optune is intended as a treatment for adult patients (22 years of age or older) with histologically-confirmed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Optune with temozolomide is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed, supratentorial glioblastoma following maximal debulking surgery, and completion of radiation therapy together with concomitant standard of care chemotherapy. VISIT SITE Optune Lua is approved for the first-line treatment of adult patients with unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic, MPM to be used concurrently with pemetrexed and platinum-based chemotherapy. In a clinical study, MPM patients treated with Optune Lua plus chemotherapy experienced a median overall survival of 18.2 months. VISIT SITE SpaceOAR Hydrogel is clinically shown to minimize urinary, sexual, bowel side effects and protect quality of life for prostate cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy. VISIT SITE HIPAA/PRIVACY THE ONLY ACCREDITED FACILITY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA RESOURCES PATIENT INFORMATION – NEWLY DIAGNOSED – COMMON CANCER TYPES – RADIATION TREATMENTS BLOG HELPFUL LINKS FAQ’S ABOUT US OUR TEAM – DOCTORS – NURSES – THERAPISTS OUR FACILITIES OUR TECHNOLOGY TESTIMONIALS © 2021 | Website Design by 24 Communications Email Facebook Instagram LinkedIn