CT/Simulation is the first step in the planning for radiation therapy treatment.  This CT scan typically takes less than five minutes and is painless.  It is during this appointment that all custom treatment position aids such as masks and immobilization devices are created.  These aids will be utilized during the CT scan and during each and every radiation treatment, ensuring that the patient lies in the correct position each time. 

Subsequently visits, the radiation oncologists and physicists will utilize the information gathered by the CT scan and create a treatment plan, which will outline the parameters for the radiation therapy treatment for the radiation therapists.

The Cancer Center's CT scanner, along with its sophisticated treatment planning system, allows the radiation oncologist to accurately locate and visualize the tumor and normal structures. This makes it possible to find the most optimal treatment approach, and to deliver it with increased accuracy.