What Patients Can Expect

Consultation Appointment

Your first consultation appointment will last about an hour and will consist of the following steps:

• An Arkansas Prostate Cancer Center staff member will talk with you about your current and past medical history, review any medications you may be taking and answer any questions you may have.
• A radiation oncologist will conduct a physical exam and review your medical history, X-rays and test results, and order any additional tests, if needed.
• The radiation oncologist will also explain the benefits of radiation therapy, treatment details and potential side effects, and answer any questions you may have.

Please bring the following with you to your consultation appointment:

• X-rays (CT, MRI, Bone Scan)
• List of your current medications, including the name and dosage of each drug
• Health insurance card or information
• Advance directive or medical power of attorney, if available

We also encourage you to bring a family member or friend with you to your consultation appointment for support.

Download the following form to have a convenient record of your appointment schedule
Your Appointment Schedule (PDF)

Fiducial Marker Placement

If you and the radiation oncologist determine that radiation therapy is the appropriate treatment, you will be scheduled to return to your urologist to have the fiducial markers implanted into your prostate. This process is similar to the biopsy procedure that you had prior to diagnosis.

CT Simulation

CT simulation is the first step in planning your treatment. The treatment-planning sessions help the radiation oncology team accurately locate and visualize the tumor. This makes it possible to determine the optimal treatment approach and deliver it with increased accuracy and as little radiation as possible to the healthy tissue around the tumor. These treatment-planning sessions will last approximately one hour and are similar to having a CT scan.

Beginning Your Treatment

Upon completion of treatment planning, your IMRT/IGRT prostate cancer treatment will begin. Treatments usually take place Monday through Friday, at the same appointment time each day (for approximately two months).