What to Expect

We are committed to providing the best possible experience for every patient. Your physician has reviewed your medical history and current diagnosis to create a personalized care plan and course of treatment. Typical courses of treatment may include infusion of chemotherapy or biotherapy, surgery and/or radiation therapy. Browse the information below for details on your next steps, or click here to learn more.

For more information on what to expect at The Breast Center at CARTI, please click here.

Infusion Therapy

If your physician has chosen infusion therapy as your course of treatment, here is helpful information to prepare you for your first treatment. You can also visit our video library to view additional instructional videos.

The most commonly used infusion therapy is chemotherapy – often referred to simply as ‘chemo’ – which is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. Chemo works by stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells, which grow and divide quickly. Sometimes chemotherapy is used as the only cancer treatment, but, more often, you will get chemotherapy along with surgery, radiation therapy or biological therapy. 

What to Expect During Your Infusion Therapy 
Most infusion therapy treatments are delivered in our onsite infusion suites. While the physical spaces may vary between our multiple infusion facilities, the experience is the same for all of our patients. 

Preparing for Your Treatment
Before your first day of treatment, a nurse will provide information to you and your family that is specific to your treatment, so you will know what side effects to expect. You will also be given printed information to take home with you. On the first day of treatment, your nurse will have you sign your informed consent giving CARTI permission to proceed with your prescribed treatment, print your orders, look at your lab results and send the orders to our pharmacy where your personalized course of medication is mixed. 

What to Expect at Your Appointment 

Receiving Your Treatment

What to Bring to Your Treatment
Our goal is to help you feel as comfortable as possible while you are here. Feel free to bring food and drinks, a blanket, and something to read to pass the time. All CARTI facilities have free Wi-Fi, so feel free to bring your wireless devices and earphones. If you use any routine medications or pain medication, please bring those with you as well. 

Radiation Therapy

If your physician has chosen radiation therapy as your course of treatment, here is helpful information to prepare you for your first treatment. 

Radiation is a special kind of energy carried by waves or a stream of particles. It can come from special machines or from radioactive substances. Special equipment is used to aim the radiation at tumors or areas of the body where there is disease. Your course of radiation therapy has been designed by your physician especially for you. Your treatment areas and the technology used have been selected as the best choices for your specific diagnosis. 

What to Expect During Your Radiation Therapy 
Radiation treatments are very similar to having an X-ray. The actual treatment causes no pain or discomfort. For each external beam radiation treatment session, the patient will be in the treatment room for about 15 to 30 minutes, but will be receiving the dose of radiation for only about one to five minutes of that time. The sound you may hear during your treatment is simply the operating noise of the machine. 

Marking Your Skin For Treatment

Caring for Your Skin

Changes to Your Skin

Special Notes