What is the radiation therapist doing?
The radiation therapist uses the ionizing radiation process to treat cancer patients. Radiation therapists are also known as therapeutic radiographs or radiotherapists. Sometimes they are incorrectly called radiation or radiation therapy techniques. These conditions are limited to the technician that actually operates radiation machines. While radiation therapists can operate radiation equipment, they also interpret radiation regulations, develop radiation therapy treatment plans and then implement them for cancer patients.
The radiation therapist is a allied healthcare professional. Unlike doctors, these health careers do not require medical title. Yet, an allied medical career is an integral part of any well -functioning health care system. Kinesiotherapists, midwives and optometry are considered allied healthcare workers. Other fields include medical physics, social work and rehabilitation counseling.
Requirements to becomeRadiata therapists differ from ground to ground. In the United States, the student must first complete a high school or must obtain authorization for general education (GED). In most cases, the student will complete two years of technical school and receive a radiation therapeutic certificate. There are also some programs that offer an associated title or bachelor's degree. Certification or title depends on the program and institution.
Upon receipt of the certification, the therapist must pass the State Board exam to be licensed for practice. The exam tests the student's knowledge of human anatomy, radiation physics and cancer psychology. Therapists must also know how to run and solve radiation equipment problems, although the technician can be what performs the actual operation of this device.
patients generally initiate radiation therapy after being written by their radiation oncologist, a medical physician who withIt piocial for cancer treatment by radiation. The therapist then plans to treat the patient using a radiation physicist, which is specially trained to measure and administer radioactive materials. Treatment can be observed for up to several weeks and during this time the therapist observes and regulates the course of treatment based on the patient's response.
There are several specialties of practice for the radiation therapist. Brachytherapy is a form of radiotherapy, which involves actually inserting a radioactive source into a patient near cancer. Brachytherapy is generally used to treat localized types of cancer, including cervical cancer and prostate cancer. Another possibility is radiosurgery, non -invasive surgical alternative that uses rays of ionizing radiation.