Nuclear Physicist

[reconjj]

When receiving radiation with a planned scans to deliver SBRT to Stage 4 with 1 hot node in the pelvis area or any radiation , the planning is between the RO and the Physicist ? Who are these physicist that must be experts where that beam of radiation goes not to hit any organs or burn the wrong part by accident ? Should we ask who they are and there experience ? Does the RO have the final say ?

[Tall_Allen]

ROs always work with physicists who do much of the detail work of where each beam is directed. He is part of the RO's staff and is someone the RO likes to work with. The patient has no input into physicists, nurses, receptionists or any other hospital staff.

[6357axbz in reply to Tall_Allen]

Thanks TA.

[reconjj in reply to Tall_Allen]

Allen , Im shure experience as always plays a vital role in that department . Should any questions be asked to our MO about the experience of the physicist or am I over thinking this . ?

[Tall_Allen in reply to reconjj]

The MO has nothing to do with the physicist. Your RO is competent to pick the best physicist she can get and to oversee his work. As a patient, your concern isn't with the qualification of any of your RO's staff. Focus on what is important - the treatment plan. Your RO will be happy to go over it with you after it is done. She will be delighted if you ask about your dose-volume histogram because she puts a lot of work into it.

[reconjj in reply to Tall_Allen]

I didnt mean the MO . Sorry . The RO is who i meant to say .

[Lieto55 in reply to Tall_Allen]

That's absolutely true, re the dose-volume histogram. On both the CyberKnife and IMRT with SIB, both ROs just lit up when they got to show how the beams were being directed to critical areas and avoiding others, and then drove me around my latest treatment "video". It started with a question about why TrueBeam sounded like it was shuffling cards as it moved.