Arriving for your appointment
Most patients arrive 10–15 minutes before their appointment, check in at the front desk, and change into a gown if their treatment site requires it. Comfortable, loose clothing makes life easier.
Bring whatever helps you feel calm — many patients listen to music, podcasts, or audiobooks during the imaging portion of the session.
On the treatment couch
Radiation therapists will help you onto the treatment couch and position you exactly the way you were positioned at your CT simulation. If you have a custom immobilization device — a thermoplastic mask for head/neck or brain treatments, a body cradle, or a breast board — that's used to keep you in the same position to within a millimeter.
The room is climate-controlled and the table is padded. The therapists will explain everything they're doing as they go.
Imaging and plan adaptation
Once you're positioned, the Gemini 360 acquires fresh imaging in 3D. This is the part that makes adaptive radiotherapy 'adaptive': the radiation oncology team reviews today's images, confirms or adjusts the contours of your tumor and surrounding organs, and re-optimizes the treatment plan so the dose still goes exactly where it should.
This step typically takes 10–15 minutes. You stay still on the table while the team works.
Beam-on
Once the plan is finalized, the radiation itself is delivered. This is the part most people imagine when they hear 'radiation,' and it's typically the shortest part of the visit — just a few minutes. You won't feel anything; the machine moves around you and is silent except for a faint hum.
The therapists are watching you on cameras the entire time and can hear you through a two-way intercom. If you ever feel uncomfortable, you can speak up and they will pause immediately.
Going home
After the beam is off, the therapists will help you off the table and walk you back to the dressing area. Most patients drive themselves home and resume normal activity the same day. You may feel mild fatigue, especially toward the end of a course; your team will go over what to expect for your specific treatment site.
