If radiation has been recommended as a treatment for your child, some questions you can ask the radiation oncologist include:

• Why does my child need radiation?
• What type of radiation does she need?
• What type of radiation treatments do other facilities offer?
• What part of his brain or spinal cord will be treated with radiation?
• What is the total dose of radiation that she will receive?
• How many treatments of radiation will he get?
• How much experience does this institution have in administering this type of radiation to children?
• How will she be positioned on the table?
• Will any restraints be used?
• Will anesthesia or sedation be needed?
• How long will each treatment take?
• What are the possible short-term and long-term side effects?
• Could this type and dosage of radiation cause cancer later?
• What are the alternatives to radiation?
• Are there any precautionary procedures to be done prior to spinal radiation therapy?