SIMULATION VISIT

Planning how to direct and dose your radiation is vital. This requires a process called simulation, in which you will work closely with a radiation therapist to determine the exact place on your body where the radiation will be aimed. This special area is called your treatment port, or field, and which is marked on the skin with permanent ink to ensure that the radiation is targeted properly each time.

Your simulation process should take somewhere between 30 minutes and 2 hours to complete.

  1. Please allow the valet service at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center to park your car. The Department of Radiation Oncology will pay for this service.

    Valet parking area

    Valet parking area
    Valet parking area
  2. You should proceed to the receptionists area where our registration staff will enter you in our system and direct you to the waiting area. Your family must stay in this area, and may only enter the dressing room if you need help changing into a gown. The dressing room has lockers for your clothes and personal items, and gowns for you to wear during the simulation. Please change into a gown, and exit the dressing room to the patient waiting area.

    Reception area

    Dressing room

    		 Waiting area
    Reception area
    Dressing Room
    Waiting area
  3. Sometimes an immobilization device is made to prevent you from moving during treatment. These custom-made devices will be used each time you come for treatment to make sure the radiation focuses precisely in the right place.

    Custome made immobilization device
    Custom made immobilization device
  4. Simulation can involve x-rays that helps define the treatment port, as well as CT scans or other studies used to plan how best to direct the radiation.

    AcQsim CT
    SiemensCT
  5. Your radiation oncologist will use your CT scan to mark the areas to be treated and areas to be protected. This information is entered in the computer to accurately reproduce each treatment.

    Marking of area for treatment
    Marking of area for treatment
  6. Two simulation visits are usually required. The second simulation will be scheduled from several days to two weeks after the first visit. At the second simulation, treatment fields are verified according to isodose plans approved by the radiation oncologist. The information is entered in a computer to ensure that specific areas get the correct dose of radiation and other areas are accurately protected at every treatment. The radiation therapist will make sure that the fields set for treatment are the same that the doctor has approved. When all the films and calculations have been checked by the radiation oncologist and physicist, a schedule for daily treatments will be made.