The MPRI ExperiencePatients & FamiliesWhat to Expect
"The staff is wonderful. They live and breathe their work."
—Cynthia Smith, MPRI patient with a non-cancerous brain tumor
What to Expect
From your first contact with MPRI through your follow-up visits, we want to make treatment as comfortable as possible. Here are the steps you will take in your journey through proton therapy.
Initial Consultation
Your first MPRI contact will most likely take place over the phone. During this first conversation, clinic personnel will discuss your medical situation with you. Then, if appropriate, you may be asked to visit MPRI for an on-site consultation. Once your condition has been fully evaluated, a decision will be made as to whether treatment at MPRI is an option for you. Some cases are not appropriate for proton therapy. In those situations, we may be able to recommend other treatment.
Pre-Treatment
After you have been accepted for treatment at MPRI, you may go through several procedures to prepare you for proton therapy. Depending on your type of cancer, these procedures may include:
- Bone and body scans
- Fitting for an immobilization device (to keep you stationary during treatment)
- Implantation of targeting markers
- Measurements to ensure that the immobilization device fits
- X-rays with the immobilization device on to check the position of the tumor
Because treatment usually runs Monday–Friday for six to nine weeks, most patients arrange for short–term housing in Bloomington. Our social services staff can assist you with information about a variety of options.
Beginning Treatment
On your first day at MPRI, you're bound to be a little nervous. You're in an unfamiliar place, dealing with difficult challenges. Our goal is to make your experience at MPRI as comfortable as possible. We provide a wide variety of relaxing music for you to listen to during treatment, or you can bring your own.
Once in the treatment room, the treatment process has begun. An average treatment is 30–60 minutes in length, most of which is positioning. Actual beam time is 1–2 minutes. Therapy staff will explain the entire treatment process prior to you receiving treatment.
Side Effects
Most people who undergo proton therapy experience only mild side effects, which may include fatigue, skin irritation, or slight hair loss.
Follow-up
Follow-up visits are an important part of treatment. Either an MPRI physician or your regular oncologist perform exams at regularly scheduled intervals for a period of at least one year. Our radiation oncologist will determine if you should return to MPRI for follow–up care or instruct your regular physician for follow-up exams.