Willis-Knighton Department of Radiation Oncology - Shreveport, Louisiana

Insurance

Our department works closely with patients and insurance companies to provide cost effective care. We accept Medicare and participate in several managed care plans. Modern radiotherapy can be expensive but is usually covered by health insurance and government policies.

Support, Housing, Transportation

Several cancer support groups are available to provide emotional, spiritual, and psychological support as needed. Professional social workers are available to assist with all issues including transportation, financing and housing during treatment. Specialized funds to assist with the financially disadvantaged or out of town patients are often available. Please contact our office for a list of support group and meeting times.

Consultation

This first visit with the Radiation Oncologist will require between 45 minutes and 2 hours. During this visit, a medical history and physical exam will be performed as needed. All diagnostic studies (MRI's, CT's, x-rays, etc.) and pathology reports will be reviewed and any appropriate tests ordered. Extensive time for questions and answers will be given. No radiotherapy is delivered during the initial consult.

Simulation

This event is a planning session used by the radiation health care team to plan the patients radiation course. The planning machine has the same geometry as the linear accelerator (the treatment machine) and can therefore mimic all of its motions and actions. The simulation is highly physics oriented and will require between 45 minutes and 2 hours. The patient will be required to hold still throughout the session and will have skin marks placed serving as a treatment target zone. Cat Scan images or diagnostic planning x-rays will be taken during this visit.

Participating Hospitals

The Department of Radiation Oncology at WKMC has served as a referral center for hundreds of physicians and all hospitals within the Ark-La-Tex and the surrounding regions. Several patients self-refer themselves for evaluation and treatment as well as second opinions.

What is cancer?

Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of cells within the body. These abnormal cells have lost the normal control mechanisms present in healthy tissue. The cells aggressively attack their neighbors and may spread locally or distantly within the body.

What is radiation?

Radiation therapy is high energy X-rays or photons that kill cancer cells by attacking their genetic structure or (DNA) or by inducing sudden death within the malignant cells. It is invisible and affects cancerous cells more strongly than healthy tissue. Radiation may be generated by linear accelerators or utilized in the form of radioactive pellets. Radiation is also present in the natural environment and people are exposed to low levels of radiation throughout their lives.

What is the difference between Radiation and Chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy is a form of medication usually given by mouth or through the veins (IV) that travels throughout the body fighting cancer cells that may have spread from their original site. The treatment is prescribed by a medical oncologist.

Radiation is a local therapy that only affects the region at which it is aimed killing cancer cells in the prescribed region.

Both arms of cancer care (radiotherapy and chemotherapy) as well as surgery have unique side effects and purposes.

Side effects

The Radiation Oncologist, nurse, and therapist will discuss the unique side effects of radiation depending upon the treatment site. The toxicity of treatment may vary among patients with dose, pre-existing conditions, tumor locations, etc. A written consent form will be obtained prior to treatment with all side effects listed. The radiation beam is painless. The radiation has no taste, noise, smell, or heat and is usually well tolerated by the patient. Many patients continue to work or exercise throughout the treatment course.

How long will my treatment last? Must I be hospitalized?

Radiation is typically delivered on Mondays - Fridays for 1 - 8 weeks depending upon the type of disease and stage. Treatment may be definitive or palliative in nature. No hospitalization is typically required.