 Treating
cancer in the human body is the principal use of radiation therapy. As
part of a medical radiation oncology team, radiation therapists use
machines -- called linear accelerators -- to administer radiation
treatment to patients. Linear accelerators, used in a procedure called
external beam therapy, project high-energy x-rays at targeted cancer
cells. As the x-rays collide with human tissue, they produce highly
energized ions that can shrink and eliminate cancerous tumors. Radiation
therapy is sometimes used as the sole treatment for cancer, but is
usually used in conjunction with chemotherapy or surgery.
 The first step in the radiation therapy process is simulation. During
simulation, the radiation therapist uses an x-ray imaging machine or
computer tomography (CT) scan to pinpoint the location of the tumor. The
therapist then positions the patient and adjusts the linear accelerator
so that, when treatment begins, radiation exposure is concentrated on
the tumor cells. The radiation therapist then develops a treatment plan
in conjunction with a radiation oncologist (a physician who specializes
in therapeutic radiology), and a dosimetrist (a technician who
calculates the dose of radiation that will be used for treatment). The
therapist later explains the treatment plan to the patient and answers
any questions that the patient may have.
 The
next step in the process is treatment. To begin, the radiation therapist
positions the patient and adjusts the linear accelerator according to
the guidelines established in simulation. Then, from a separate room
that is protected from the x-ray radiation, the therapist operates the
linear accelerator and monitors the patient's condition through a TV
monitor and an intercom system. Treatment can take anywhere from 10 to
30 minutes and is usually administered once a day, 5 days a week, for 2
to 9 weeks.
During the treatment
phase, the radiation therapist monitors the patient's physical condition
to determine if any adverse side effects are taking place. The therapist
must also be aware of the patient's emotional wellbeing. Because many
patients are under stress and are emotionally fragile, it is important
for the therapist to maintain a positive attitude and provide emotional
support.
Radiation therapists
keep detailed records of their patients' treatments. These records
include information such as the dose of radiation used for each
treatment, the total amount of radiation used to date, the area treated,
and the patient's reactions. Radiation oncologists and dosimetrists
review these records to ensure that the treatment plan is working, to
monitor the amount of radiation exposure that the patient has received,
and to keep side effects to a minimum.
Radiation therapists also
assist medical radiation physicists, workers who monitor and adjust the
linear accelerator. Because radiation therapists often work alone during
the treatment phase, they need to be able to check the linear
accelerator for problems and make any adjustments that are needed.
Therapists also may assist dosimetrists with routine aspects of
dosimetry, the process used to calculate radiation dosages.
Note: Some resources in this section are provided by the US Department
of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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