Children who will not be receiving anesthesia during their proton therapy sessions come back to the center for a “dry run” before treatment begins. The official name for this appointment is “verification simulation,” and it takes about an hour.
During this visit, the radiation therapist will bring your child into the proton therapy treatment room, also referred to as the treatment gantry. The radiation therapist will position your child on the treatment table, using the customized immobilization devices that were created during the CT simulation visit.
Next, the therapist will simulate the process of setting up for a proton therapy treatment session. This will include taking X-rays. During this appointment, the therapist will not deliver any proton radiation. It is just a dry run to help our team make sure that everything is in place for treatment to begin.
If your child is going to receive anesthesia prior to each proton therapy treatment, the verification simulation will occur on the first day of treatment, not at a separate visit.