At times we need additional information to decide the relative merits of radiation therapy or in preparation for treatment itself. We may arrange for tests such as CT and MR scans that seek to determine if a tumor has spread to a regional lymph node basin or to a distant part of the body. Blood tests may help determine how well you are likely to tolerate treatment. Tests may be required simply to see precisely where your various normal internal organs are placed in 3-dimensional space.

For treatment of some parts of the body, specific pre-treatment testing is required. For example, if your are a pre-menopausal woman and need to receive radiation therapy that might affect your reproductive tract, we will ask you to have a blood test to ensure that you are not pregnant when radiation therapy begins. Similarly, if you your cancer is located in an area close to your mouth and the radiation therapy field includes your teeth, we will ask you to have dental screening and to undergo any necessary restoration prior to therapy.

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