Radiation therapist
Radiation therapists (with master's and doctoral degrees) can also prescribe medications and radiation, interpret tests results, perform follow ups, reviews, and provide consultations to cancer patients in the United Kingdom and Ontario, Canada (possibly in Australia and New Zealand in the future as well).
In the United States, radiation therapists have a lower educational requirement (at least an associate degree of art, though many graduate with a bachelor's degree) and often require postgraduate education and certification (CMD, certified medical dosimetrist) in order to plan treatments.
The therapist works closely with the radiation oncologists, medical physicists and other members of the health care team.
They effectively design and treat the course of radiation treatment, in addition to managing the patient's well-being.
The process of producing the final plan rests with a group of specialized radiation therapists called dosimetrists.
The therapist first ensures that the patient is correctly set up for treatment; this may involve immobilization and surface-marker alignment with lasers.
The therapist takes imaging studies of the targeted treatment area and reproduces the patient positioning and plan parameters daily.
Therapeutic radiographers play a vital role in the treatment of cancer as the only healthcare professionals qualified to plan and deliver radiotherapy.
Therapeutic radiographers are trained in all the many aspects of radiotherapy including: Simulation - using specialist x-ray fluoroscopy machines to target the area to be treated whilst minimising the amount of exposure to surrounding healthy tissue; CT/MR Simulation - producing scans to be used for the planning of a course of radiotherapy; Computer planning - producing a 3D plan of the dose distribution across the area to be treated; External beam treatment - using ionizing radiation, such as high-energy x-rays, the radiographer delivers accurate doses of radiation to the tumour; Mold Room - radiographers and technicians in the Mold Room produce immobilization/beam attenuation devices for those receiving radiotherapy to the head or neck, as well as other custom devices for a patient's treatment; Brachytherapy - the use of small radioactive sources placed on or in tumors to treat to a high dose while avoiding normal tissues; On treatment review - radiation therapists regularly assess patients while they are undergoing radiotherapy, prescribing drugs to counteract side effects where necessary or referring them on to other health professionals if needed.
The national professional association has recently introduced a Dosimetry Specialty Certificate program to address the fact there is no specific credential (DSp).
Post-graduate studies at Masters level (PgD and MSc) are available, where graduates from such programs can move into Advanced Practice roles and can undertake duties previously done by physicians.
Practitioners can build further on their skills and knowledge to work as Consultant Radiographers, who are considered as experts in clinical practice, research, education and leadership in their area of expertise, and will often possess a PhD or equivalent award.
According to ASRT's national wage survey done in 2003[4], the state that had the highest mean income for radiation therapists was New Mexico($120,250), followed by Arkansas ($109,000).
