When you arrive at the simulator, a radiographer will explain what is going to happen to you. Please ask any questions if you do not understand anything.

Ladies, if there is a possibility that you might be pregnant, please inform your doctor or radiographer when you arrive as there may be a risk to your unborn child. It is also important to avoid becoming pregnant during your course of treatment.

Treatment planning is the process of working out exactly what area of your body needs treating. It is also about finding out the best way to treat you.

We are going to do this using a machine called a simulator. A simulator is a specialised x-ray machine that can do all the same things as the treatment machines except it cannot deliver your treatment. It also has sophisticated "extras" that enable your doctor to visualise the area to be treated and therefore plan your treatment accurately.

The treatment planning is straightforward. Most people do not need to have any special preparation. However, if you do need some preparation, the radiographer taking care of you will explain it to you.

The radiographer may ask you to undress, depending on which part of your body needs treating. They will make every effort to respect your privacy.

All you have to do is lie on a couch and breathe normally. The radiographer will decide the best position for you to lie in and make sure you are as comfortable as possible.

The radiographer may move the simulator around you, but it will not touch you. The radiographer will take x-rays of the area to be treated. Your doctor will use the x-rays to check that the treatment planning is accurate.

Your doctor will also use any previous x-rays or scans as guidance when supervising the planning of your treatment.

When your doctor and the radiographer are confident that everything is correct, the radiographer will draw your treatment marks on your skin using a felt tip pen. Sometimes, the radiographer will need to make tiny permanent marks on your skin, but they will ask your permission before doing so. This will allow you to wash and shower normally, without these tiny marks being lost.

To make these tiny permanent marks, the radiographer will place a blob of ink onto your skin. Then, using just the tip of a needle, they will scratch your skin so that the ink can penetrate making a small permanent mark the size of a pinhead. These permanent dots are very helpful to us and save treatment planning time. However, if you do not want the permanent marks, you will still need to have the felt tip pen skin marks. In this case, please do not soak in the bath, preferably have a shower if you can. If the marks do fade, we can replace them. However, you will have to return to the simulator to have them replaced and this will extend your appointment.

CT Planning