General information about radiation therapy
A Cancer Patient’s Guide to Radiation Therapy. This booklet gives an overview of what is radiation therapy, how it is used to treat your cancer and its symptoms, how to prepare and what to expect during your treatment.
Video: patient getting radiation treatment at the Cancer Centre (Courtesy: CTV News). You might see an ad before the radiation video
Canadian Cancer Society’s radiation therapy webpage and video
Radiation Therapy: A guide for people with cancer contains similar information as the webpage, but in a booklet format. You can order a paper copy of the booklet by contacting Canadian Cancer Society.
For more video-based information:
Canadian Cancer Society’s Cancer Basics Video collection.
Princess Margaret Cancer Classes
Information about radiation therapy specific to your cancer type
For information specific to your cancer type, visit the Cancer Treatment page, and click on Radiation Therapy.
For details about your treatment plan, such as number of treatments and radiation dose, please speak to your cancer Care Team members.
New Patient Package
Cancer Support Resources for New Patients (New Patient Package) is a collection of patient materials that new patients find most helpful at the start of their cancer experience.
What to bring to your radiation therapy CT Simulation and treatment visits
- Your health card.
- Water bottle with water, especially if your treatment preparation includes drinking water before your CT Simulation and treatment visits.
- Your questions for your Care Team.
- Pen and paper to take notes.
Optional items to bring:
- A blanket. If you are worried about feeling cold, you can ask us for a blanket.
- Information about your cancer or your treatment. We can help answer your questions about the information during your visit.
How to prepare for your visits
Read the Treatment Information section (see above). If you have limited time, the Cancer Patient’s Guide to Radiation Therapy booklet is a good source of information.
Read the treatment preparation instructions that you received. You can also find CT Simulation and Treatment preparation instructions by visiting the Cancer Treatment page and clicking on the Radiation Therapy section.
What to expect for your CT Simulation and Treatment visits
Read the Treatment section (see above). There are video links which can help you understand what to expect for your visit. If you have limited time, the Cancer Patient’s Guide to Radiation Therapy booklet is a good source of information.
Who to call if you are having symptoms:
Get help managing your cancer symptoms is a handout that lists the phone numbers for the Cancer Centre Symptom Support Telephone Service (also called triage line). Please visit the Cancer Program’s webpage for the latest hours of operation.
For more written information:
The Cancer treatment webpage contains symptom management information written by the Cancer Program. For symptom management information specific to your type of radiation treatment, click on Radiation Therapy section. For general information, click on the Symptom Management section. The information is listed in alphabetical order by the name of the symptom.
The patient symptom management guides, written by Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario), has lots of helpful information and tips on the common symptoms related to your cancer treatment.
Directions to the Cancer Centre at RVH. Select “Cancer Program” under Find Your Way dropdown. Try the RVH Map App which provides step by step instructions to the Cancer Centre from the parking lot.
Click here for parking information.
Cancer Patient Transportation Services is a list of transportation options for those living in Simcoe Muskoka region. Some of the transportation options are only for cancer patients. Always call ahead to find out if the service is available.
Cancer Centre phone list. Please visit the Cancer Centre webpage for the latest hours of operation.
COVID-19 updates and visitor restrictions for patients of the Cancer Program. As the COVID-19 situation changes, this information will change as well. Check this page often.
Rotary House is a hotel-like lodge for patients at RVH. Located across the road from the Cancer Centre. If you are travelling from out of town, or don’t want to drive back and forth, this is a great option.
Patient and Family Support Services at the Cancer Centre is a brochure that outlines the supportive care services provided by our social worker, dietitians, Indigenous Patient Navigator, drug and special access navigators, lymphedema clinic therapist, spiritual care providers, and tobacco support coach.
Indigenous patient resources is a webpage with information on how to access our Indigenous Patient Navigator, as well as culturally safe health care options in the Simcoe Muskoka region.