Hope Unscripted

Ep. 6 - Radiation Therapy: Myths, Facts, and What Really Happens

• Jamie Dietrich and Brittnee Harmon

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Radiation therapy has a reputation it no longer deserves. When someone hears they “need radiation,” the mind jumps to worst-case stories, dramatic machines, and side effects that feel inevitable. We wanted the facts, so we sat down with Julie Maday, radiology clinic manager at Highlands Oncology, to translate the process into plain language and calm some of the fear that shows up the moment people start Googling.

We talk through the difference between radiology and radiation, why imaging like CT scans and MRIs is the backbone of cancer care, and how radiation treatment has become incredibly site-specific. Julie explains what the linear accelerator is actually like, what patients typically feel during treatment, and why the first visit is often a planning CT rather than “day one.” We also dig into the hidden precision work: dosimetrists building custom plans, physicists verifying accuracy, and therapists using daily X-rays to align treatment within millimeters.

Beyond the technology, we spend time on the human side of cancer treatment. Julie shares how anxiety and anger can peak before the first session, how therapists support patients through humor and steady routines, and why protecting independence can be just as important as comfort. We also answer a question we hear all the time: after external beam radiation therapy, are you radioactive, can you hug your family, and what does “radioactive” even mean?

If this helped you, subscribe so you don’t miss future conversations, share it with someone facing radiation therapy, and leave a review to help more people find Hope Unscripted. What question about radiation or cancer screening do you want us to tackle next?

Welcome And Meet Julie

SPEAKER_00

Hey there and welcome to Hope Unscripted, a podcast of Hope Cancer Resources. Here we're having real conversations about cancer from prevention and education to support resources and the stories that remind us that we are not alone. And we're your host. I'm Jamie Dietrich. And I'm Brittany Harmon, and we're so glad you're here. Now let's talk about hope, healing, and the journey unscripted. Welcome back to the Hope Unscripted Podcast, where we talk about cancer care in our community. I'm Brittany Harmon, and today I'm joined by Julie Mayday, who's the radiology clinic manager for Highlands Oncology. Thank you so much for joining us today, Julie. Thank you so much for having me.

Radiology Vs Radiation Explained

SPEAKER_01

I'm excited for this opportunity to kind of debunk myths or misconceptions around radiation. And now I'm super hunting.

SPEAKER_00

So let's start something simple then. When people hear the word radiology, a lot of times they think X-rays, MRI, just basic. What in that nutshell does that really mean?

SPEAKER_01

Yes. So radiology and radiation are it's very confusing, very close, very similar. Yeah. Um, radiology is kind of the heart of cancer care. That's that's their x-rays, their CT scans, their MRIs, and that kind of paints the picture of how we're gonna treat them. And then they come into radiation where we're using radiation to treat the cancer. So they work together, but very different. So we get lots of phone calls of I need to schedule my MRI, and it's it's not the case.

SPEAKER_00

Oh bang. Because that's you know, that's when I hear radiology, that is what I think of first. And I didn't realize how close they work together, but they're extremely separate at the same time. So that's that's good to know. Yes. Um, just that huge part of the cancer treatment process. So you get diagnosed, that's the first thing you see is from the radiology side. Yes. And then from there is when they kind of decide if they even have to do radiation because some don't have to. That's right. Yeah, correct.

SPEAKER_01

There's so many different journals. You know, they might just need chemotherapy, they might need surgery, radiation, and then they might need all of us, two of us. Um, but yeah, there's very different routes they can go.

Common Radiation Myths Debunked

SPEAKER_00

Okay. Um, what are some of the biggest misconceptions or myths? Like let's bust some of these myths and not scare people so much, because I know that a lot of time when they hear they need radiation, their mind instantly goes crazy. Yes.

SPEAKER_01

Um, first thing is they start Googling, which I'm guilty too. Uh, but they'll start Googling and they see, you know, horrible skin reactions, um, you know, or they've had a loved one 20 years ago that had radiation treatment and their skin was falling off. And uh, we're very sight-specific. Where we're treating is where they're gonna have their side effects or their symptoms. Um, you know, if we're treating the breast and you have a stomachache, it's not from us. Yeah. Um, so most of the time we can say, that wasn't from us. Um, we're the nice guys, but um, so that's one of the things is you know, they see these horrible side effects. And it in just the 12 years I've done this. Um, I remember when I first started, we would have to put patients on break for skin breakdown uh, you know, for a week or so. And then now it's I can't even tell you the last time I've seen somebody put on break for like their skin breaking, like you just don't see that anymore because of the technology that's advanced.

SPEAKER_00

So far. And it continues to go farther and be like you said, more site-specific where they're not like I think of the radiation chambers and your whole body's in there, even if it's one little spot that you need to take care of. So that's really cool to know. Yeah. Are there any other myths or things like that that you can think of?

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, you know, I was just talking to one of our therapists this morning about this and this, and we were just like laughing about some of them. Shouldn't laugh, but uh, you know, a lot of patients think that's gonna be these crazy Star Wars effects and lasers and beams coming out of the machine, and it's actually really boring, really anticlimatic. They land the treatment machine, it goes up and under what looks like a huge kitchen-aid mixer. Um, they don't hear anything, or I mean they don't feel anything, they don't see anything, they can't see the radiation. Um, the machine just turns and buzzes around them, and that's it.

SPEAKER_00

Okay. Yeah. Is it kind of like a tight cortivail? Like I think of the MRI machine almost, and how it's like you're in this little tube for so long and you have to hold perfectly still. Did they have to do that also? They have to hold very still.

What Treatment Feels Like

SPEAKER_01

Um, the, you know, after they consult with our doctors, they'll come for their planning CT. Um, and our job that day is not or past the diagnostic part. So we're getting them in a tolerable position that they can tolerate um and lay still for their treatment, which is approximately about 15 minutes. Some treatments are longer, but on average it's 15 minutes. Um, so we work really hard that they can lay on that table and lay still. Um but the machine is actually very open and you know that it rotates around them. So there's a lot of times where they don't see anything at all. Um, but it's not like the MRIs at all. Okay, that's awesome.

SPEAKER_00

Because that's I wondered how long it was too, because you know, no idea. I've never experienced that. I know my aunt has had some radiation done and it's been very side specific for her. And so she's been very fortunate to not have horrible side effects. But you know, you do hear all the old skin falling off and some crazy things like that. And it would be scary to somebody who doesn't know.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, absolutely.

Planning CT And Why Waiting Happens

SPEAKER_00

Walk us through what patients can realistically expect. If this is their first time they've already gotten their scan and they know that they're gonna have to have radiation, what should they expect coming in that first time?

SPEAKER_01

So the very first um treatment that they have with us after the consult, like I said, will be their planning day. That's the first step, is a lot of patients think that they're coming for their first treatment. Like, I am here, let's do this. And it's like, actually, we're just planning today. Um, so we do we make, you know, get them in that position, we do a quick CT scan, then it goes off to our dosymetrist. Really fancy word, but they're like smartest people I know. They are the ones that work closely with the physician and come up with a very unique plan to treat the patient, you know, tailored to just them by using our planning scan and fusing it with their diagnostic studies that they've had to treat exactly where we need to. But they essentially are telling the machine how to manipulate and like turn to treat exactly where we need to while avoiding all these critical structures to minimize all these side effects. So it's really neat to see them construct this plan.

SPEAKER_00

That is something that's so fascinating to me because that wouldn't have been something that was there 12 years ago or 20 years ago. Yeah, just a big open box and you just blast it. Walk in there and hope for the best. Yeah. Oh wow, that's incredible.

SPEAKER_01

And a lot of patients are like, okay, so I'll start tomorrow. And that's another thing, too, is because of all the behind the scenes and the detailed planning that goes on, a lot of times they have to wait a week or two to start their treatment. Because then after that, our physicists they have to make sure that the radiation that's coming out of the machine and the plan that they came up with is actually coming out accurately and yeah, delivering what it needs to.

SPEAKER_00

So after the first couple of treatments, do you do another scan to see if it's working at that point? Or what it what does that look like?

SPEAKER_01

Uh, we do not. Um, so they'll come for their first day for their treatment. And, you know, we we show them where we sit. We can see and hear them at all times, we can communicate with them. Um, we'll set them up in the room. Um, that very first day, there's like two things that I want to put put out there for people to know. But uh, you position them, we step out. Every day we take x-rays. Um, positioning them in the room, we can get within millimeters, but we want to be exact. So we take the x-rays, we can overlay those with the plan. Um, but after we take those x-rays, there's a pause in the room, and all the patients are laying there and they're like, Do they forget about me? Like, I'm in here, nothing's happening. Um, but that's us reviewing those images. Sometimes we have to have the radiation oncologists come improve those films. Um, and then the table moves, and that's us doing that outside the room, getting them exactly where we want to treat, where we just image and said, This is where we want to go. So they lay there silently, and then the table moves, and it's like, whoa. Yeah. So um, those are like the biggest things that we try to like point out to the patients. Um, and then afterwards, we're always like, that's it. We're like, yeah, that's all the fun you get with us today. See you tomorrow. Okay. Um, but yeah, so after a couple of treatments, we don't do any scans like during their um course with us. Okay. Because the radiation is actively working, it's a buildup effect. So we don't want to see what those results are halfway through. We want to see it, you know, weeks after they finish treatment to see where we're at.

SPEAKER_00

I got you, because it's just slowly works in your body after the fact. So, how many treatments roughly do people get? Does it just vary per diagnosis, basically? Yeah.

Daily Setup X Rays And Precision

SPEAKER_01

So we can see a patient one time. Uh, you know, a lot of times we'll do one large treatment for maybe pain relief or um certain treatment to the brain, or we could see them up to 40 days. Like there's wow, all different variations. But every day for 40 days. Um, if you have so there's some that are one treatment, three, five. Some of those are every other day. But typically on average, our patients have to come Monday through Friday, you know, five to six weeks. Wow. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

Okay.

SPEAKER_01

That's intense.

SPEAKER_00

Yes, a full-time job. You get to know a lot of these patients and have a really close connection with them when something like that. Is there a patient story that has just stuck with you over the years?

SPEAKER_01

I have like thought about this because I'm like, they all like I should germinal up you know, throughout my career, because I'm like, there's so many of them. But most recently, um, that really stuck with me was there was this patient who had like mobility like limitations. And we were like, how do we get him over to our treatment table? How do we transfer him? And usually we would just use a hoyer lift, and you know, this patient was adamant, like that's not going to work for me. They're like, okay, but we really need you to try it. And so we we convinced this patient to do it, and he he does it. He's in tears, I'm in tears. I'm like, okay, we're never doing that again. Let's we will find a different way. Um, and we did. We we were able to find a way, and it was great. And um, but the solar eclipse happened.

SPEAKER_00

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01

And so our company like let everyone like stop and like go out and see this. So we're like outside in laundryers and stuff, and that was the hit this patient's treatment time, and it just came up and sat with us and watched the solar eclipse.

SPEAKER_00

So that's so special too at the same time. But love that. I can imagine getting close to some of these patients. I know it's not always easy because they may not have the outcome that they needed from radiation. Does that happen pretty frequently?

SPEAKER_01

Uh I feel like we uh are more successful than not. Okay. But you know, if we can give them pain relief or uh, you know anything, like help them breathe a little bit better, then then that's a reward to yourself.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I can see that. A lot of patients will feel anxious for even just the first scan. So do you guys see them for their initial scans as well, or is it just the radiation afterwards?

SPEAKER_01

We just see them for their radiation, but I we get a lot of emotions that first planing day because they're like, I have no idea what to expect. We're very unknown. A lot of people don't know what we do. Um, so once they come there, that day we get all the emotions, we get anger, we get, you know, fear. But that's where we can really like sit with them and tell them, like, it's really not gonna be that bad. If you want to step in and see what the machine looks like to help you like kind of mentally prepare, we can do that. Um, after that, and then after their first treatment, a lot of their anxiety goes away. But it's really hard to get ahead of it, yeah, because they it they have no idea.

Treatment Length And Patient Bonds

SPEAKER_00

It's just if you were just told and you wasn't something you were expecting. Yeah, like I can imagine that initial fear and yeah, anger. That's a major emotion I feel like a lot of people have. I know, like I don't have personal, but I have family that has, and learning it. I know when I was 16, my grandfather got diagnosed with esophageal cancer, and I was so mad at the world for him. Yeah. And he was acting like it's okay, it's gonna be fine. And I'm like, no, it's not. And back then too, the medicine was so different back then. Um Highlands was really new in the area at that time. Um, and so he just, you know, wrote it out the best he could, and I think of all the different things that now are available to patients, and I'm so grateful for that. Yeah, and grateful for Highlands. And Highlands is such a huge supporter of us, hope in general, and trying to take care of all these patients together.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, and we're so grateful for you guys. Um, you know, you guys see our patients at consult and you tell them what's all available to them and transportation. We were talking about how it they have to come every day, and that's so important and like necessary. Like it's not they need to come every day for their treatments. And so in times, um, transportation is a limitation. Yeah. And either they don't have the uh a vehicle or they don't feel well enough to drive, or heck, maybe they're scared of drive in Northwest Arkansas traffic, because I know I am.

SPEAKER_00

I'm lying up for that one, yeah.

SPEAKER_01

So just those little things and like you guys stepping in and driving them. I think I just saw a statistic of three million miles driven.

SPEAKER_00

Yes. We're on the way to four right now. I think um I know by the beginning of 2027, minimally, hopefully, driven almost four million miles for patients back and forth to take them to these appointments and take them to their chemotherapy appointments and things like that. Because it is, if you can't get to your appointment, that will delay everything.

Anxiety Support And Transportation Help

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. I know it's like you get this diagnosis, and then it's like you have to come every day for six weeks. And it's like, how the heck am I gonna do that? And so you guys really step up. And our patients talk so greatly about the drivers. So you know, one patient's like, yeah, they'll have the boost in the glove compartment and it'll get warmed up for me. And I'm like, oh, so just try and give them some energy after all that.

SPEAKER_00

I'm sure it's exhausting to even lay there for 15 minutes if you're in a very stiff position. Um, that would wear me out right now. So what does an average behind the scenes day look for a radiation therapist? Chaos. I'm just kidding.

SPEAKER_01

But a little bit we uh don't let everybody see that. I know it's on an average day, you know, we treat patients uh every 15 minutes and there's just in and out. But we're working behind the scenes with the doctors, the dosymetrist, the physicists, the the nurses coordinating um, you know, care for like inpatients of how we're gonna get them over here or their side effects. Um, but on the front end, our biggest thing is to make that patient feel like they're the only ones there. Yeah. So that's very important. Yeah. But there's you know a lot of troubleshooting on the machines and when, you know, sometimes we're engineers all of a sudden. Technology, man. Yes, it's important. But that's what I always tell our patients like if something goes down and they're like, why are you running behind? I'm like, well, you know, sometimes we love technology, but sometimes we really hate it.

SPEAKER_00

Technology hates us. Well, yeah, for sure. So the dosymmetrist, is that the correct word? I've never even heard that term. So let's expand on that. Do do patients meet that person? Do they know what that is? I've never heard that. Secret people behind heads.

SPEAKER_01

Yes. No, uh, actually, a lot of ours are remote, but we have been blessed with such an amazing team of dosymetrists. Like, they're the best of the best. I don't know how our dosymmetry supervisor snagged all these ones, but yeah, so they don't typically meet the patients. Um our dosymmetry supervisor, he's very hands-on, he's in the clinic and he's always out there. And he used to be a therapist, and so he'll get down there and treat with stuff. Yes. So he likes to be involved, but no, there's really no reason for the patients to get to know the dosimetrist.

SPEAKER_00

Okay. But yeah, but that's cool to know that you have like an extra sidekick you don't know about, yeah. And be aware that that person is the one locating that spot and getting you right where you need to be. Yeah. That is so cool to me. Yeah. And they're all remote and they can all do that, even just seeing it. That's just amazing to me.

SPEAKER_01

And you know, there's some complex plans that they'll work days on, and but just it's just so neat that they can create something like computerized and then like to for it to go out to our machines and their machines are moving what way it told it to go.

SPEAKER_00

And that was it's just so intense. So to be a dosymetrist, I'm assuming it's a lot like you probably go to medicine medical, some type of school for something like that.

SPEAKER_01

Yes, yeah. Um, there's different journeys that you know, pathways that they can go, but usually they'll do radiation therapy therapy and then they'll go on to dosymmetry.

SPEAKER_00

So they learn a lot about what it takes to be a dosymetrist. That is just such a cool term. It's gonna stick in my head now.

SPEAKER_01

I know they're the specialist of dose. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

Love that. Yeah. Um just even all that, it just highlights how much coordination it takes to have this between your oncologist, doctor, your radiation therapist, your dosymetrist, and then uh your other support systems that just people all care and they all want to take care of these patients, and that's just a blessing to me. That's what I'm like. It's so cool that like all of us, it takes all of us to take care of one person. That's it. It's like, you know, they always say it takes a village to raise a child, or it takes a village to take care of a patient too, yeah, and their family and all of that. So, do you deal with whenever somebody comes in and their family's there? And does it ever get a little anxiety in there whenever family members are in there? Is it better if it's just a patient by themselves? What does that look like?

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, we actually um can't have family members back there. Sometimes, uh like we can bring them back there and show them the room and say, you know, this is where they're being treated. Um, but it does make it a lot harder when the families are in there. But sometimes they need it, you know. Sometimes that helps relieve their anxiety. Um, you know, I one time I taped a picture on top of our machine, uh, this lady's husband. And so she would stare at and watch her out while she was being treated, and the machine would rotate and she'd look over here at it, you know. But um, yeah, it's really hard having them in the room um because it's very quick. And a lot of times patients are in pain, and so we're trying to move quickly. And so then, you know, we feel bad, like, okay, now we get to usher you out. Yeah. But yeah, a lot of times the having them in the room can be harder. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

But again, 15 minutes on average, if if they know that they're out there, at least they can be in the building in some sense.

SPEAKER_01

Absolutely. Yeah, they can they can definitely, you know, be in the waiting area with them and we always reassure them, we'll bring them back to you in one piece, you know, in 15 minutes.

SPEAKER_00

And that's what I think of too. So radiation therapists are emotional support too at the end of the day. So, how what does that look like for you guys? Like, I can imagine we can take an emotional toll on you guys as well.

Behind The Scenes Care Team

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, I mean, we cry with our patients, we laugh at them, we ring them out. Um, I like my dream job would be to be a cheerleader for our patients. And um, but yeah, it's it can be emotion.

SPEAKER_00

Do they ever just sit there and confide in you guys sometimes too? Oh yes.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, and sometimes their whole life story. Yeah, I can imagine, yeah. But you know, a lot of times they need that, they need the the fun banter back and forth, and they need to tell us about their life or what they're doing over the weekend. But I it's almost like they are here for cancer, but it's the last thing we talked about.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, so that's nice though, because that's one thing that they need to get off their mind in that moment so they can get through this treatment and be successful and things like that. I think of we had a podcast with the she was a caregiver specialist, and she talked about skin anxiety and some of those things also. But she was like, sending memes back and forth sometimes is like the easiest thing to do. And I think about joking about TikToks, I do that in my office every single day. And so I can imagine probably myself doing that, just trying to alleviate because I wanted to use humor as a de stressor. Yeah. And so that's nice to know that people can rely on that too. And it doesn't have to be such a heavy moment. Yes. Because I'm sure it can be intense at times.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. And it's hard too because like the caregivers, you know, or the family members, like cancer just entered your world, and they don't know that they're doing this and taking the independence away from their loved one. Because they're like, what can I do for you? I want to do everything for you. Let me take your shoes off, let me cook you this meal. So when they come to us, it's like we we give them like almost tough love and like give them that independence back of like, you know, you can walk in the room yourself, you can get on the table. I mean, obviously, we're gonna help them. No, but some of them it's like that's what they need back. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00

Because you do. I feel like seeing some patients, they do want to be independent and they don't want people to rely on them and they have they struggle because people are always so nice. Maybe you want somebody to be a little tough on you too at the same time. So that's that's refreshing to hear that other people think that too. Because it's always so sensitive.

Family In The Room And Emotions

SPEAKER_01

You never know that someone's gonna take it. So I remember when I was a new therapist, I was like trying to put a patient's shoe on for them, and they're like, I can do it myself. And I'm like, Oh, shoot, like I'm I'm doing the same thing, like I'm so sorry. So then that's when I started to really realize like you gotta read the patient and what they need, what they want. Some of them want the extra coddling, yeah, and we'll do that. And some of them want that banter back and forth. And you know, if we can make them forget why they're there for five minutes, then we've done our job.

SPEAKER_00

That helps, yeah. So you've been doing this for 12 years total. And how long have you been the clinic manager? How has that gone?

SPEAKER_01

Uh it's newer. Um, I've been I got moved into the soup a supervisor role uh gosh, three years ago, two years ago. Okay. And so this has been maybe like eight months that I've been since September the manager. Okay. But I still get out there and treat the patients.

SPEAKER_00

And that's important. Yeah. And that keeps you going every day. Yes. So yeah. When you We're a brand new radiation therapist. How did that affect you? Because did you have a cancer story? Is that why you wanted? Like, what made you want to do this as a profession?

SPEAKER_01

Um, I think because I started off on the diagnostic side of things. Um, I did x-ray for four years, and I always wanted more time with the patients. Um, you know, my coworkers will get annoyed because they're like, okay, we gotta get the next x-ray. And I'm like, but wait, I'll in the other stadiums. Um, so it, you know, we're not here by accident, like it's our calling. And so it's no surprise that like I've followed into this journey because like I love the patients and that that part of it. Um, you know, I I feel like cancer is everywhere, and that it like I have family members that have had cancer, and so I feel like it's always been kind of just their calling.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, yeah. And that's that's good to just hear like your therapist's gonna care about you, your radiation therapist's gonna care about you too. They're doing it for a reason. It's not just a job at the end of the day. It is because they truly care about these patients. Yeah. And what we want patients to know too is that all of these do connect, and everybody's story can be so different, but there's always some similarities in there. Yes. And so I'm sure you see that on a daily basis almost. And everybody's diagnosis may be different, and where they're being treated is a different area, but it's the same process and a concept. So yeah, absolutely. Is there anything else you'd like to add for these patients just to understand any more things that maybe they might be scared about but shouldn't be? Ask the questions, you know.

SPEAKER_01

Ask if you need to ask the question every day, do it. But just ask the questions. Um, I hope that we were able to kind of debunk some of these, you know, concept misconceptions. Um, but it's really, really actually a boring side of your journey. Um, just think of it as social hour.

SPEAKER_00

You're from you're from the hangout. Do they so I feel like some people like you said the Star Wars effect that all the lasers are gonna be there? Is that a pretty common thing that people ask? I'm just curious.

SPEAKER_01

Well, a lot of people I think are like, oh, am I gonna glow after this? Or you know, some of them are being funny, but some of them are like, oh gosh, really, like radiation. Yeah. Um so I think that my spill over the 12 years has just that's become part of my thing of like there's no crazy beams that are coming out. I mean, when you hear radiation, you're like, are we gonna see it? Yeah. Um, but it's invisible, you can't see it. And um, you know, that's another thing too, is patients are concerned that when they walk out of our room, are they radioactive? And there's some procedures that they are. Um, however, with us, we're external, and the radiation once it hits where we're treating, it kind of dissolves. And so, like, it's safe for us to come in the room right after. It's safe for them to hug their family or hold their grandchild on their lap. So they're not glowing, they're not radioactive.

SPEAKER_00

Because that is something that I would think too. So the hope cancer's building was Nartai at one point and was a radiation clinic, and there are radiation chambers in there that are very old. And the first thing that when I started working there, they talk about them. And my first thought was, Are they still active? Yeah, I don't know, I don't know enough about radiation or being radioactive. If somebody's asked, Are you radioactive? What does that even really mean?

SPEAKER_01

Um, radioactive, like there's some procedures that they're essentially emitting radiation, you know, some so they're just get onto somebody or transfer to somebody else is that yeah, like they're yeah, yeah, it's just projecting almost that someone next to them could essentially get some kind of dose of radiation if it's like an internal source.

Are Patients Radioactive Afterward

SPEAKER_00

Okay, and that's probably how medicine was done years ago. But luckily now we have all this new technology and Highland's killing it over here. We have their and their clinics and everything like that, and all you guys and appreciate just all the thanks you do for these patients. Yes, and we appreciate you guys too. Takes a village. It does, it sure does. Um, can you talk about how important imaging is when it comes to early detection and treatment?

Imaging And Early Detection Matters

SPEAKER_01

Yes, yeah. I mean, the sooner that a patient can get their diagnosis, the you know, obviously the better their outcome. Um less uh treatment courses they might have, you know, need to have, you know, if we catch it early enough, for example, like a breast cancer, if we catch it early enough, they might only need to have the biopsy or a lumpectomy, you know, to remove that tumor, and then that might be it instead of a whole double mastectomy like you see on some people. Yeah. Yeah. So, you know, getting your annual exams done is so important. Yeah. I know I'm like, I try not to be that person, but I'm like, it is really important. So it is.

SPEAKER_00

I feel like younger and younger people now are getting diagnosed, and it it's almost not a matter of when, it's almost or if it's when. Yeah. And that is kind of scary to think about and how you can prevent and do the best that you can. But doing these early scans, especially for young women and young men too, there's a rise in prostate cancer right now and younger men, and that's and testicular cancer also, and that's so scary to me to think about. Yeah. I mean, I'm 36 and so is my husband, and he's a farmer. And to get him to go anywhere that is a medical base is not fun or easy. Something's gotta be essentially falling off at that point, but yeah, I'm trying to get him to kind of see the light, like there's a reason that they do these things.

SPEAKER_01

So yeah, early detection is key, and imaging is a huge tool in that, you know. I I've even like, I'm like, am I can I get a colonoscopy sooner than what I'm supposed to? I'm like, because we're seeing 30-year-olds with colon cancer.

Practical Prep Tips And Closing

SPEAKER_00

And there's I mean, we're just going on the American Cancer Society, even just had a recent statistic that it was a younger age that was that's the rise that's being but 45 is when they tell you to do it. So how do we cross that path? Yeah, so it is younger people that are getting checked and it's not too late. So um, what are some practical tips for patients to feel prepared for more comfortable for that first visit if they even after their planning day so they know what kind of to expect the next time? But are there any more tips you would give to somebody if they were if even if their planning day is coming up and they're just not aware of what to expect?

SPEAKER_01

Um, so we want to start creating, you know, kind of some educational videos and maybe start posting those for like the community to see. But I'm sure, you know, don't Google too much. But if you want to see what the machine looks like, you know, look up linear accelerator. Um but at that consult, ask those questions there too. You know, they they play, um, they have the opportunity to play some videos for the patients to kind of see what to expect. Um, some patients don't want to see it right then, but you know, we can send them home with the link so they can watch it at home to prepare and see what this next planing session is gonna be or what the treatment's gonna be like. Um call the clinic and see if you can talk to a therapist or something, a radiation therapist to explain what to expect. Um, after they do the planning session, we have uh radiation therapists that are actually coordinators. They call and schedule the patients for their treatments. So they get a lot of questions there. So ask the questions, you know what to expect. You know, can I eat before my treatment? You know, can I take my medications? Like there's a lot of questions that patients have because in radiology they might have these restrictions. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

So that's good to know too, because I would have thought the same thing, like they probably can't eat or drink or whatever, but maybe you can. Yeah, you can find your treatment. Most of the time, yeah. Just keep up with your normal lifestyle. So there's no silly questions. No the end. No silly questions. Ask all the questions just every day. You need to. And no one is if they're gonna give you an answer. And it may have been a simple answer, but sometimes you just need to hear that answer. So yeah, absolutely. Well, is there anything else you want to add? We've got about a minute left. I don't think so. It's gone by so fast. Yeah, it's been such a great conversation, and I've enjoyed learning more too, just because I had no idea on some of these things. So yeah, I really appreciate your time today and the clinics and all the things that you guys are doing for these patients. And if anybody at home has listened to this and they have questions, call us. Call Miss Julie. She'll take care of you, she'll get you radiation therapist to talk to and answer some questions or some concerns that you guys may have.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

So thank you again for being here and thank you to our listeners. I hope you guys enjoyed today's episode. If you heard today's episode and you felt inspired or had questions, feel free to contact Julie, like I said, or visit hopecancerresources.org and we can connect you with anybody that we can help with. Yeah, absolutely. Thank you guys. Thank you. Thanks so much for listening to Hope Unscripted. Join us next time as we share real stories, meaningful resources, and reminders that you're not alone. Until then, keep choosing hope.