What is Radiation
Therapy?
Radiation therapy is the
treatment of cancer using x-rays, gamma rays and electrons.
Radiation Therapists work with doctors, nurses, physicists
and other health professionals to administer the prescribed
radiation treatment.
Radiation in high doses
kills cells or keeps them from growing and dividing. Because
cancer cells grow and divide more rapidly than most of the
normal cells around them, radiation therapy can successfully
treat many kinds of cancer. Normal cells are also affected
but, unlike cancer cells, most of them recover from the
effects of radiation. To protect normal cells, radiation
therapists carefully limit the doses of radiation and spread
the treatment out over time. They also shield as much normal
tissue as possible while they aim the radiation at the site
of the cancer.
Why become a Radiation
Therapist?
Radiation Therapists play
an important role in the educating, supporting and counselling
patients and their families. Radiation Therapy is a fulfilling
career for those with the emotional maturity and strong
motivation to play a significant role in the treatment of
people with cancer.
Career opportunities are
excellent, as there is a shortage of radiation therapists
in Ontario and around the world. New cancer centre facilities
are opening, and more are scheduled to open in Ontario in
the near future, further increasing the demand for radiation
therapists.
For more information on
the advantages of becoming a radiation therapist, please
visit the Canadian
Association of Medical Radiation Technology web site
and/or the Ontario Association
of Medical Radiation Technologists' web site.
How do I become a
Radiation Therapist?
The Cancer Centre of Southeastern
Ontario participates as a radiation therapy training site
for the Michener Institute
for Applied Health Sciences. In partnership with the
University of Toronto, the Michener Institute offers a joint
degree and diploma program in Medical Radiation Sciences.
In addition to Radiation Therapy, student may specialize
in Nuclear Medicine or Radiological Technology. Training
at the Cancer Centre in Kingston gives students valuable
hands-on and clinical experience.
For more information, please
visit the Michener
Institute web site.or
email our Clinical Education Coordinator, Siobhan
McArdle.
