After a cancer diagnosis, patients may be referred to the Cancer Centre. At the first appointment, patients and families will meet a nurse and a cancer doctor, called an oncologist. The oncologist will explain your cancer and help you decide what treatment(s) would be best for you. You will be given time to ask the doctor questions at this visit. You may also be referred to more than one oncologist to talk about several treatment options. Within a few days of this first meeting, you may be scheduled for the next step to prepare for radiation treatment.
Photo Essay: Cancer Centre
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Cancer Centre
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Cancer Centre clerical staff
Whether you are coming to the Cancer Centre for your first visit or for a follow-up, our friendly clerical staff will greet you. They will ask you questions such as your date of birth, your address, and a person to contact in case of emergency. They will also need your health card.
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Cancer Centre nurses
During your clinic visit, you will usually see a cancer (oncology) nurse. The nurse will meet with you in an examining room before you see the doctor. The nurse will ask you important questions about you and your family. He/she will help you understand the information you are given. The nurse will also help you if you have concerns or questions.
Next, the doctor will meet with you. He/she will explain your cancer and talk to you about what treatment(s) would be best for you.
We encourage you to ask any questions you may have about your cancer and its treatment, and to be an active member of your health care team.
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Cancer Centre patient library
The patient library, supported by volunteers, has print resources and computers with Internet access for you to use. You can find the library next to the main waiting area. You can also find information about various support groups that you may be interested in joining.
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Cancer Centre Radiation Therapy reception
If you are going to have radiation therapy treatment, you can expect a smiling face to greet you when you arrive at the radiation therapy reception desk. This is where you will check in for your treatment planning session (also called simulation or markings) and all of your radiation treatments. Please bring your health card with you to every visit.
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Cancer Centre staff teaching patients
Radiation therapists, nurses and radiation oncologists teach patients about their care and related topics. They also provide support to you before, during and after your course of radiation treatment.
You will receive a copy of Cancer Care Nova Scotia’s Cancer Care: A Guide for Patients, Families and Caregivers in the mail or at your first appointment. You can also find it online.
When you are undergoing treatment, you will be assessed weekly. This may be done by the radiation oncologist, the oncology nurse, or the radiation therapist. It is a chance for the doctor to see how you are doing with the treatments and for patients to ask any questions they may have.
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Radiation therapy treatment planning
Before a patient can begin radiation therapy, there must be a treatment planning session. This is also called simulation or markings. This is where you will meet radiation therapists and have a CT scan or an x-ray in your treatment position. You will be given small positioning tattoo dots that don’t wash away so that the radiation therapists can get you in that exact same position every day for treatment. View a video of the simulation process.
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Using CT scan images to outline treatment areas
After simulation, work on the treatment plan begins. Using computers, your radiation oncologist uses the CT scan images to outline the area to be treated. This can be very complex and take quite a few hours to do. Another type of radiation therapist, a dosimetrist, uses these outlines and applies radiation beams of different sizes, shapes and angles to the CT scan on the computer to see what the treatment plan looks like. A medical physicist ensures that the whole plan is ready for treatment.
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Preparing a patient for treatment
When it is time for treatment to start, two radiation therapists always work as a team. They position a patient for treatment using any equipment used during simulation and special lights to help line up your tattoos. View a video of the radiation treatment process.
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Positioning the patient for radiation therapy
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Radiation therapists performing treatments
When it is time to give the treatment the radiation therapists leave the room, but they can see and hear you at all times in case you need them. Radiation therapists use technology to deliver accurate and safe radiation therapy treatments.
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Sunshine Room, 11th floor of Victoria Building
You may find it helpful to visit the Sunshine Room. The Sunshine Room is a haven for patients and their families to relax in a non-medical environment. It is located on the 11th floor of the Victoria Building.
Patients can also visit the Sunshine Room to receive free therapeutic treatments, including reiki, massage therapy, reflexology, healing touch, and therapeutic touch. If needed, patients can also get free haircuts and wigs.
