Patients typically undergo several tests before starting radiation therapy.
Pathological examination
Most importantly, the doctor will make a pathological diagnosis of the tumor, which is actually done before starting all treatment, that is, after obtaining a tumor sample through a tissue biopsy, the pathologist will look at the morphology of the cells under a microscope, the way they grow, and then make a diagnosis. Pathological diagnosis takes longer time, partly because of the complicated process of processing tissue samples which takes several days, and partly because of the importance of pathological diagnosis, which is very difficult for many tumors and requires multiple pathologists to discuss and decide together. The pathological diagnosis of a tumor is exceptionally important and determines the nature of the tumor, how malignant it is, and thus what treatment to receive. Without a clear pathologic diagnosis, one cannot receive radiation therapy.
Imaging
In addition to pathology, patients undergo whole-body imaging before radiation therapy, including CT, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, mammography, and bone scan, to see how far the tumor has progressed, whether it is confined to the breast or has metastasized to the axillary lymph nodes, or even to other parts of the body. These determine the staging of the tumor, and the principles of treatment are different for different stages.
Examination of whole body condition
In addition to tests regarding diagnosis and staging, patients undergo a series of tests regarding their physical condition, including blood tests, heart-related tests, pulmonary function tests, liver and kidney function tests, etc. The purpose of these tests is to allow the physician to understand the patient’s physical condition, to assess what intensity of treatment is acceptable, whether they can receive radiation therapy and other treatments, what treatment-related side effects they may face after receiving certain treatments, and what efficacy they may What efficacy will be obtained from the treatment, etc.
Only when all of these tests are complete will the doctor make a targeted treatment plan for the patient, including radiation therapy. Moreover, these tests are not a one-time event; the patient’s condition and physical status are dynamic, so some of these tests need to be repeated at different stages of treatment to assess the latest situation and thus adjust the treatment plan.