Your radiation oncology consultation is the first official step in the radiation therapy treatment process.

For many patients, this appointment can feel intimidating simply because it’s unfamiliar. Knowing what to expect can help you walk into the appointment feeling more prepared and more confident.

A quick reflection: I’ve spoken with many patients who say the anticipation leading up to the first appointment can be more stressful than the appointment itself. Once you sit down with your oncologist and start having a real conversation about your circumstances, your goals, and your options, things can begin to feel much more manageable.

(If you want a full patient-friendly walkthrough of the radiation therapy process, I discuss it step by step in my book Let’s Talk Radiation Therapy.)

What Happens During a Radiation Oncology Consultation

Your radiation oncologist will present facts about your cancer and how it behaves.

They will review:

• Any recent diagnostic imaging related to your diagnosis
• The location of the cancer in your body
• Biopsy results or surgical notes related to your diagnosis

Using this information, they will make their best recommendations for treatment.

This appointment is also your opportunity to communicate your goals for treatment, what your fears are, and what is most important to you.

There Are Often Multiple Ways to Treat Cancer

As I’ve mentioned previously, there are multiple ways to create an effective, targeted, personalized, and comprehensive treatment plan.

This fact isn’t meant to overwhelm you, it should actually be reassuring.

Radiation oncologists have a broad spectrum of knowledge to pull from, and will give you their best recommendations based on your diagnosis and your goals for treatment.

Rest assured that it is their job and their desire to be your information database for the most trusted, updated, and accurate information specific to you.

A Helpful Tip About Online Research

I strongly believe in light online research surrounding your cancer and treatment options.

It can be helpful to familiarize yourself with general information and understand some of the terminology involved.

But your radiation oncologist is undoubtedly your most trusted resource for information specific to your diagnosis and treatment plan.

Let them review the information with you so you don’t spend unnecessary time feeling confused or overwhelmed by conflicting information online.

Questions You Can Ask Your Radiation Oncologist

This appointment is your opportunity to bring up your concerns, your goals, your plans for your future, and your fears.

You should leave the consultation feeling as if you have left nothing unsaid or unasked.

If you’re not sure where to start, here are a few questions that can help guide the conversation:

• Have you treated this type of cancer before?
• How many treatments do I need if the goal is cure?
• What are common side effects for radiation in this area?
• What can I do to manage these side effects if they occur?
• Would you recommend any other therapies in conjunction with radiation?
• Are there clinical trials available that might be appropriate for my disease?

These physicians are highly trained to help you make important decisions about your cancer care.

Another quick reflection: I often remind patients that your consultation is not a one-sided lecture. It’s a conversation. This is your opportunity to speak openly about your goals, your concerns, and the things that matter most to you as you move forward with treatment.

When you leave the appointment, the goal is for you to feel informed, confident, and hopeful that there is a clear and thoughtful strategy moving forward.

If you’d like to learn more about the full radiation therapy experience—from consultation through daily treatments—I walk through the entire process in my book Let’s Talk Radiation Therapy.

If you’d like to better understand the different professionals involved in radiation therapy and how they support your care, I introduce the radiation oncology team in another post on the blog.

There is also an entire team working behind the scenes to design and verify your radiation treatment plan before treatment ever begins. I explain those roles in this post right here.