Questions For Your Radiation Oncologist
About Radiation Therapy

• Do the physicians in this office have experience with both external beam treatment and seed implants?

• Is three-dimensional (computer-generated 3-D view of the prostate) or conformal (targets the radiation to the prostate) treatment planning offered at this facility?

• Are the radiation oncologists working with me board certified in their specialty?

• How many brachytherapy procedures (seed implants) have the physicians in this group done, and how many times a week do they do them?

• Does this radiation therapy center participate in clinical trials?

• Is there always a physician nearby while the external beam treatments are being given?

• If external beam therapy is given, how many treatments are recommended and over what time period?

• What kind of side effects may result from each type of radiation therapy?

• What are the advantages or disadvantages of getting radiation therapy instead of surgery or another treatment?

• Can an operation, or some other treatment, be done after radiation therapy in case it doesn't work?