Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about cancer treatment? We have helpful answers for you.

If you have questions about cancer treatment, you are not alone. Understanding the science behind radiation therapy—and what to expect during treatment—provides confidence and peace of mind for people going through radiation therapy. Browse questions by topic below and click on any question to find the answer.

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Radiation Therapy

General questions about radiation therapy

For what types of cancer is radiation therapy used?

Is radiation therapy used only to destroy tumors?

How long does radiation therapy take?

What are the potential side effects of radiation therapy?

Will radiation therapy make me radioactive?

Will radiation therapy make me nauseous?

Will radiation therapy make my hair fall out?

Can radiation therapy itself cause cancer?

Can radiation therapy be given at the same time as other treatments?

Treatment Types

External beam radiation therapy

Can I drive myself to and from treatment?

Will I be alone in the treatment room?

Is radiation treatment painful or uncomfortable?

What happens after treatment ends?

Treatment Types

Stereotactic Treatments

For what types of cancer are stereotactic treatments used?

Are stereotactic treatments used only to treat cancers?

How long do stereotactic treatments take?

Are stereotactic treatments painful?

What are the potential side effects of stereotactic treatments?

Can stereotactic treatments be given at the same time as other treatments?

Treatment Types

Brachytherapy

How does brachytherapy work?

What are the potential side effects of brachytherapy?

Will my brachytherapy affect other people?

Treatment Types

Proton Therapy

For what types of cancer is proton therapy used?

How long do proton therapy treatments take?

Are proton therapy treatments painful?

What are the potential side effects of proton therapy?

Will proton therapy make me radioactive?

Can proton therapy itself cause cancer?

Will I be able to continue my daily activities during my proton treatments?

Can proton therapy be given at the same time as other treatments?

Interventional Oncology

Percutaneous Cryoablation for Tumors

How does percutaneous cryoablation work?

How does ice destroy cells and what is left?

What are the advantages of percutaneous cryoablation?

What kinds of conditions can be treated with percutaneous cryoablation?

Who is a candidate for percutaneous cryoablation?

How long does the procedure take?

How do I prepare for the procedure?

What will happen after the procedure?

How long is the recovery period?

How will my results be monitored?

What are the risks of percutaneous cryoablation?

Yılmaz S, et al. Use of cryoablation beyond the prostate. Insights Imaging. 2016;7(2):223-232.
Higgins, LJ, et al. Renal Ablation Techniques: State of the Art. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2015 Oct;205(4):735-41.
Venkatesan AM, et al. Percutaneous Ablation in the Kidney. Radiology. 2011;261(2):375–91.
Thacker PG, et al. Palliation of painful metastatic disease involving bone with imaging-guided treatment: comparison of patients’ immediate response to radiofrequency ablation and cryoablation. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2011 Aug;197(2):510-5.

Interventional Oncology

Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE) Treatment for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

What are the symptoms of BPH?

What can I expect during the PAE procedure?

What can I expect after PAE?

Leong, JY, et al. Minimizing Sexual Dysfunction in BPH Surgery. Curr Sex Health Rep. 2019 Sep; 11(3): 190–200.
Piechowiak, R, et al. Prostate artery embolization in an outpatient based lab (OBL): safety and radiation exposure . JVIR 2017; S1051-0443(16)31757-2. Vascular Institute of Virginia, Long Beach, NY

Cancer Types

Treatments

Resources