One of the most common questions we receive is how long a single radiation treatment will take. We completely understand—getting a cancer diagnosis and figuring out how that impacts your life can be very stressful. Here, we’ll provide some answers that we hope will help prepare you for your radiation therapy journey.
The short answer is that it depends. Not all radiation treatments take the same amount of time, either for a single appointment or for the total treatment type.
External radiation therapy is the most common type of radiation therapy used for cancer treatment, and treatments can be given by either linear accelerators or particle accelerators. Here at Integrated Cancer Care, we use a linear accelerator, so we’ll speak specifically to the treatment times specific to it.
In addition, some patients at ICC may receive radiopharmaceuticals. We’ll also discuss the treatment times required for each of the two types of radiopharmaceuticals we administer.
Finally, we’ll talk about total treatment times for each type of radiation therapy we offer, as well as some additional appointments outside of treatment appointments.
IMRT for Prostate Cancer
Intensity-modulated Radiation Therapy, or IMRT, is a type of external radiation therapy used to treat many types of cancer, including prostate cancer. We use a highly advanced linear accelerator to precisely target cancer cells with each treatment, maximizing damage to the cancer while minimizing damage to healthy cells. The delivery of powerful energy beams kills or damages the targeted cells, allowing the body to rid itself of cancer and begin healing.
For each radiation treatment session, our team will position you on the treatment table and set the radiation targeting and dose to match your tumor’s shape and size. You shouldn’t feel any pain or discomfort.
A single radiation treatment of IMRT is short, lasting just 10-15 minutes. Patients are typically in and out of their appointments within 30 minutes. Our team loves seeing each patient, but we understand that you have a life outside of your radiation treatment, and it’s our goal to interrupt your daily life as little as possible.
Radiopharmaceuticals for Prostate Cancer
Some patients at ICC may receive the radiopharmaceuticals lutetium-177 PSMA-617 (Pluvicto®) or radium-223 (Xofigo®).
For patients receiving Pluvicto, treatment is typically given over the course of 6 separate infusions that are 6 weeks apart. Each infusion typically takes about 30 minutes, but the total appointment time can last for 2-3 hours.
Xofigo is administered to patients at 6 separate appointments spread out over the course of 5 months. Rather than an infusion, this radiopharmaceutical is administered via a slow injection that takes about one minute to complete. It does not require additional post-treatment care, so patients only need to be in the clinic long enough to receive their injection.
Total Length of Treatment for Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer patients being treated with IMRT external radiation therapy typically receive treatment five days per week for 3-9 weeks total. At 15 minutes per treatment, that’s just 75 minutes of treatment time per week (150 minutes of total appointment time). A patient on a 9-week radiation treatment plan at our radiation oncology center would spend a total of about 22.5 hours at treatment appointments.
Patients receiving the radiopharmaceutical Pluvicto would come in less frequently but for longer periods of time. Over the course of treatment (about 8 months total), these patients would spend about 18 hours receiving treatments at our clinic.
Patients being treated with Xofigo would spend the shortest amount of time at treatment appointments, likely under two hours over the course of their 5-month treatment.
Especially for patients receiving IMRT for prostate cancer, finding a cancer clinic close to home or work is critical. Even though the time for each appointment is short, coming in 5 days per week can cause a real interruption to your normal life—especially if you have to travel a long way to get to the clinic, fight to find parking, or work in extra time to navigate large hospital buildings. That’s why we have two centrally located radiation oncology centers, where patients can receive care in a convenient and comfortable environment.
Learn more about our locations here.
Other Appointments to Consider
Treatment appointments aren’t the only time patients will spend in our clinics. Here are a few other types of appointments patients and caregivers should plan for.
Your First Appointment
If you’ve been referred for radiation therapy and have chosen to receive care at Integrated Cancer Care, we’ll start by setting up a consultation between you and your future radiation oncology team. This is where we’ll get to know you and your medical history—and where you’ll get to know us! At this appointment, you’ll also have a physical exam and discuss treatment options. This first appointment usually lasts about 90 minutes.
Learn more about your first appointment here.
Imaging and Simulation Appointments
If you consent to treatment, you’ll then be scheduled for any necessary imaging and simulation appointments. These appointments are a crucial part of your treatment plan, as they allow us to ensure each of your radiation therapy treatments is as precisely targeted as possible. The time for these imaging and simulation appointments varies, so check with your radiation oncology team on how much time you’ll need to plan for.
Your first treatment appointment generally occurs about 10-14 days after all pre-treatment appointments have been completed.
Learn more about CT Simulation here.
Follow-Up Appointments
First, congratulations on successfully completing your radiation therapy treatment! Our team will miss seeing you each day, but we’ll also be celebrating the occasion. After your treatment plan concludes, we’ll schedule a follow-up appointment to ensure that your recovery is going as expected and to monitor your health after treatment. Our team is always here for you, whether it’s a week, a month, or a year after treatment. Your well-being is our number one priority!
Have you been referred for radiation therapy? We’d love to talk with you about your treatment options. Reach out to us today to set up a consultation at one of our two convenient locations.