What to Expect as a Radiation Therapist
This blog is now focused on laboratory specialties. This article is here for your information only, as jobs are longer provided for any radiation technician specialties.
A radiation therapist is part of a radiation oncology team that treats cancer. Radiation therapists use linear accelerators, which are machines that give radiation treatment to patients. These 
machines projectx rays at targeted cancer cells. When the x rays touch human tissue, they create energized ions that shrink and eliminate cancerous tumors.
There are several steps that a radiation therapist will go through in the radiation therapy process. First, the radiation therapist will use an x ray or CT scan to find the exact location of the tumor. Once the tumor is located and scanned, the radiation therapist will discuss the treatment plan with the rest of her/his team. Then the radiation therapist must talk with the patient about the plan and ensure that the patient understands and is comfortable with the plan. Next, the radiation therapist will adjust the linear accelerator so that it is pointed at the tumor cells. The radiation therapist will then administer the dose of radiation from a radiation protected room. One session of radiation treatment will normally take less than half an hour, and it will need to be repeated roughly five days a week for two to nine weeks. The radiation therapist keeps detailed records of the patient’s treatments, and is responsible for monitoring the patient throughout the treatment to make sure the plan is working and not producing dangerous side effects. A radiation therapist is in close contact with the patient throughout the course of treatment, and is often called upon to provide emotional support.
A radiation therapist will usually work in hospitals or in cancer treatment centers. A radiation therapist will normally do a lot of lifting and will spend much of their time on their feet. Often, a radiation therapist will work 40 hours per week. Radiation therapists usually work during the day, with little night work except in the case of an emergency.
To become a radiation therapist, one needs to complete an associate or bachelor’s degree in radiation therapy. It is also possible to obtain an associate or bachelor’s degree in radiography, then get a certificate in radiation therapy afterwards. Often, a radiation therapist who wants to be in a managerial position will need to complete a bachelor’s degree.
Learn about hiring a radiation therapist, or find a job as a radiation therapist.
Source:
- December 18, 2007. Radiation Therapists. U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos299.htm
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