Cancer radiation treatment i started radiation treatment for breast cancer. i met with the technicians several times. the technicians stated the treatment is complex. they did not agree with the measurements and stated they would not treat me until the

Nowadays : Nowadays radiation treatments are technologically advanced. Daily treatments during the entire period, are usually all computer-controlled, programed, all automatic and optimized before the start of whole therapy over the period of typically 5-6 weeks. The treatment approach is based on typically a cat scan-image based, with radiation beams optimally positioned and modulated, to achieve maximal delivery of radiation to target volume (cancer) while minimizing incidental radiation to the neighboring normal tissues and organs. During the 5-6 weeks of treatments, at least once a week, patients are typically examined and meet with the treating physician to keep track of side-effects, if any and discuss progress and various questions or issues. Moreover, the physician works with a team of physicist and dosimetrists to prepare the overall treatment plan behind the scene. The plan typically is reviewed and verified by physicists and the treating physician in a standandized manner. The therapists or technicians are responsible to be familiar with the treatments, recognize the patients by name and by sight to execute the treatments according to the plan. There are quality-control measures throughout the entire period including daily image verifications during the course of treatments and reviewed by physician on a daily basis. The best person to ask questions and discuss treatments with is the attending physician who is responsible for and personally supervises every step of the entire process. The supporting staff usually is specialized in a particular portion of the overall process. For example, the technicians are trained to execute and delivered the already planned and verified treatments. Usually the physician decides the directs and defines the overall treatment plan, based on many factors including patients' medical conditions, overal conditions, surgeries, past and recent, symptoms, if any, prognosis and extent of tumor etc. The physician often presents the patient's case and treatment plan to a board of oncologists, surgeons, pathologists and other physicians for peer reviews prior to start of any treatments. Technicians, dosimetrists, physicists and other supporting staff, although well experienced, might not familiar with the medical or clinical factors of the patient's case. Oncology, especially radiation oncology, is an evidence-based medicine. The treatments, approaches, techniques, how much and how long are all standardized, time-tested, based on clinical experience collected around the world. Typically these are based on scientifically designed clinical trials involving hundreds if not thousands of patients. By following these patients for typically over tens of years afterwards, results and outcomes of treatme are collected and analyzed to formulate the "standard of care" and treatment guidelines for each and every case. In most countries, there are federal and local regulations governing the center and required training, credentialing of their staff and physicians. Typically each of the staff and physicians undergo years of education and training, certified by professional boards and commit to life-time continual education and updates to practice the best and latest medicine. Occasionally the treatment machines, set-up or output are off or erroneous during the course. In rare occasions, the treatment machines malfunction or even fail. There are built-in detectors and monitors of the machines and regular machine calibrations. Technicians are trained to monitor the machine conditions and in case of unexpected anomalies, malfunctions, to systemically stop, document and report the incidents to the physicians, physicists and engineers. With computerized process, often errors can be corrected by reseting or rebooting the computer. If there is any doubt about the treatment, the safety of patient take priority; the technicians are trained to stop and discuss the anomaly with the physician before resuming treatments.