Radiation Therapy

Jill Byrne

Lecturer

Change of Title From Therapeutic Radiographer tp

RADIATION THERAPIST.

Course title has changed from B. Sc. in Therapeutic Radiography to B.Sc. In Radiation Therapy

Radiation Therapy /Therapeutic Radiography Relationship to Diagnostic or

General Radiography?

Main Differences

Patient population Type and quantity of radiation.

Radiotherapy A specialised branch of medicine

concerned with the treatment of malignant disease.

Radiation Therapy Radiation Therapists

are an integral part of a team which includes Oncologists and Physicists in the planning and delivery of Radiotherapy regimes

The Radiation therapist is the main contact person for the patient during the course of treatment and is involved in all aspects of the treatment process

Pre-treatment

Mould/mask making

Immobilisation device

Radiation Therapy Utilises high energy potentially

lethal doses of radiation in order to destroy malignant tumours.

Malignant tumours however do not exist in isolation.

They reside inside a PERSON.

Linear Accelerator

Treatment Unit

Treatment Unit /Linear Accelerator

Radiation Therapy A person involved in this profession

needs to be multi-skilled and ‘A BIT OF A PERFECTIONIST’

A very high degree of technical knowledge is required and there is a need for precision, accuracy and attention to detail.

Excellent ‘people skills’ are also essential in this profession

Course content The first two years cover the basic

sciences. First year

Physics Chemistry Biology Professional Studies

Course content Second year

Anatomy Physiology Biochemistry Genetics Psychology Counselling and communications Medical and radiation physics

Course content Third and fourth years consist of an

in-depth study of: Cancer and its overall management The professional skills of Radiotherapy Self Development Health care management

A substantial research project in a related area must also be completed

Clinical Placement There is approximately fifty (50)

weeks clinical placement in total over the four years.

A substantial amount of clinical placement takes place in vacation time.

Clinical placement In the freshman years there are

short introductory placements There is significant clinical

placement in the sophister years Students are placed in

Radiotherapy departments in various locations throughout the country.

Course assessment Students are required to pass

exams in both theoretical and clinical areas over the four years.

Satisfactory completion of the clinical component is required each year in order to rise

There is also continuous assessment, project work and practical assessment

Course Assessment A clinical portfolio and a thesis are

the main assessment processes in the final year counting for fifty per cent of the total grade.

Career opportunities Currently there is a shortage of

Radiation Therapists world – wide so graduates have little difficulty in obtaining employment.