TREATMENT OPTIONS
At CRCC, after very careful and thorough initial evaluations, the physicians will spend as much time as necessary presenting treatment options and thoroughly discussing the proper role of radiation treatment. The physician’s explanation also touches on what the patient can reasonably expect from radiation treatment, including a) its ability to kill the cancer (either partially or completely), b) its potential to produce side effects, and c) whether these side effects are likely to be mild, moderate, or severe.

SIDE EFFECTS
CRCC staff also discusses the nature of any side effects as precisely as can be predicted, as well as the way these problems or discomforts can be alleviated or managed. "In our treatment planning process, we determine exactly where the radiation beam is going through in a patient's body," notes Dr. Todd Williams. "We know which organs will receive radiation, and through our three-dimensional computer models, we also know how much radiation those organs will receive and the volume of those organs that will receive a particular dose of radiation. Based upon this information, we can predict with a fairly high degree of accuracy the likelihood and severity of side effects."

"Sometimes tumors are located in such a position that it is impossible to treat without affecting sensitive normal tissue," says Dr. Terence Moore. "For instance, treatment of a tumor in the esophagus would cause a sore throat. In such cases, CRCC physicians take many proactive and ongoing measures to minimize the discomfort the patient would experience."

THE DECISION IS YOURS
Ultimately, it is the patient's and the family's decision on the level of therapeutic intervention to be pursued. One responsibility that Dr. Bass, Dr. Moore and Dr. Williams agree on is the need to offer their best analysis of the current clinical situation; to project as accurately as possible a patient’s disease process; and ultimately present an honest analysis of what the Center can expect to do in terms of treating the cancer and managing the side effects versus allowing the cancer go untreated.