Advanced Cancer & Non-Cancer Radiation Therapy

YOU FOCUSED CARE

Our team includes radiation cancer doctors, medical physicists, radiation therapists, and other treatment specialists who work together to create a care plan for each patient. We focus on safe, accurate treatment while helping patients feel informed, supported, and comfortable during care.

What to expect

Most patients will need a consult exam and simulation scan before treatment can begin. For details, view our new patient checklist.

WHERE TO CHECK IN

Edward C. Loughlin, Jr. Radiation Oncology Center, 145 Edgewood Ave., Atlanta, GA 30303 (Directions/Map)

• Parking: Parking spots are available for your appointments in our lot. Please make sure you obtain a parking pass for your car.
• Shuttle from Grady: Shuttle service is available from Grady’s Correll Pavilion and the hospital’s Patient Parking Deck to our Radiation Oncology Center.

WHAT TO BRING

• Medications you must take during the time you are scheduled for radiation.
• Questions you have for your doctor.
• Something to read to pass the time while you wait.

COMMON SIDE EFFECTS

You may experience side effects. Always tell your physician about them. Common side effects may include:

• A feeling of tiredness
• Loss of appetite
• Skin changes over the treated area

If the treated skin gets red, swollen, blistered, sunburned, or tanned, do not worry. After a few weeks, the skin may become dry, flaky, and itchy or even peel. Most changes will slowly go away after treatment ends.

To minimize skin irritation, we recommend you bathe with Dove or Ivory soap. Do not apply oils, powder, or lotions to the treatment area within two hours of your radiation appointment. You may use recommended creams on the area afterward if it is dry, flaky, and itchy. Be careful not to rub away the ink marks needed for your treatment.

WHEN TO GET HELP

Call us at (404) 489-9000 if you experience any of the following:

• New or worsening chest pain or shortness of breath – GET HELP RIGHT AWAY
• A fever of 100.4F or higher
• Shaking chills  
• Any unusual bleeding or bruising
• Nausea and vomiting lasting more than eight (8) hours, where you are not able to keep fluids down
• Mouth soreness that prevents you from drinking fluids
• Weight loss of five (5) or more pounds since diarrhea began
• Worsening stomach pain for two (2) or more days
• No bowel movement for two (2) or more days
• Pain or redness at the needle site where you had treatment

Please have the following information available to expedite your call: date of birth, physician’s name, clinical diagnosis, symptoms, last treatment date, and medication list.