Radiation Therapy

• Radiation therapy is used often to treat cancer by penetrating the cancer site with beams of high-energy radiation. It can be used alone or in addition to surgery or chemotherapy as prescribed by the radiation oncologist as part of the overall treatment strategy for prescribed patients.
  
  

Radiation Therapists

• Radiation therapists initiate treatment using machines to administer radiation to patients. Locating the tumor using an X-ray imaging machine, therapists position and adjust patients so radiation exposure is concentrated on tumor cells. During the procedure, radiation therapists support the patient emotionally while monitoring the process to ensure no harmful side effects occur during treatment. As a radiation therapist, you are required to keep detailed reports on patient treatments including radiation dosages, total radiation used, area treated and any reactions. A bachelor's degree in radiation therapy with certification through the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) is required for radiation therapists. According to Bureau of Labor statistics, there is strong career opportunity for therapists through 2016 with the median annual salary of $66,177 as of May 2006.
  
  

Dosimetrists

• Dosimetrists are responsible for calculating radiation dosages used in radiation therapy treatment. As a dosimetrist, you would determine the appropriate amount of radiation required to shrink cancer tumor cells, working as a part of the oncology radiation team creating personalized radiation treatment plans for cancer patients. According to the University of Virginia Health System, dosimetrists sometimes begin their careers as radiation therapists, completing intensive training to eventually move into this role from the therapy position. You may also enter the field as a graduate of a dosimetry program with acquired certification by the Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board. The career outlook for dosimetrists follows the same projections offered for radiation therapists under the category of radiation therapy.
  
  

Medical Radiation Physicists

• Medical radiation physicists work with the radiation oncologist in the delivery of treatment plans. In the physicist role, you would oversee the dosimetrist, ensuring treatment is tailored for each patient. With responsibility for establishing the quality control program for equipment and treatment procedures, you would test equipment by taking measurements of the radiation beam and performing regular safety tests. (Reference 4) Physicists have a bachelor's degree in physics with an advanced degree in medical radiation physics. The Bureau of Labor projects favorable growth in physicist applied-research fields. Professionals in this role earn a median salary of $94,240 as of May 2006.
  
  

Radiation Oncologists

• Oncologists are certified doctors specializing in cancer treatment. As a radiation oncologist, you would explain treatment plans to patients and obtain their informed consent prior to treatment. Supervising the radiation oncology team in patient treatment, you would advise radiation therapists on the volume of the client's body that will be treated, radiation beam exit and entry points and the radiation amounts used in the procedure. You will also identify the radiation source best suited for treatment and use positioning and immobilizing devices to make additional recommendations prior to treatment. Doctors in this field have successfully completed a residency program in Radiation Oncology with certification from the American Board of Radiology. According to the American Association of Medical Colleges, the salary for oncologists ranges from $357,000 to $463,293 annually.