Radiation therapists

A radiation therapist, AKA a radiotherapist or therapeutic radiographer, is an allied health professional working in the field of radiation oncology. Radiation therapists work in hospitals, physician’s offices, and outpatient centers, assisting in the treatment of diseases like cancer (including palliative treatment) and other medical conditions by administering radiation treatment (radiotherapy). 

They work closely with radiation oncologists, medical physicians and other members of the health care team, and in some centers they also are responsible for explaining radiation therapy to patients, operating x-ray machines and similar medical equipment (sophisticated radiation therapy equipment like linear accelerators), monitoring the condition of patients throughout the course of their treatments (which can be extended over several weeks), assessing if changes to the treatment plan are required (re-positioning, re-calculating doses), recording the results of the treatment once it is finished, evaluating and communicating radiation side effects, and ensuring the equipment is working up to certain standards. 
 

Radiation therapists hold an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree in radiation therapy; in order to plan radiation treatments, a postgraduate education and certification is often required, and those with masters’ and doctoral degrees are able to prescribe medication and radiation treatments, interpret test results, perform follow-ups and provide consultations to cancer patients (in some countries like in the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia).

Learn more about wide bore MRI and  PET CT scan.