Radiation Therapist Job Responsibilities

Over the years, there has been a growing number of people that get cancer.  That is why the field of radiation therapy has grown tremendously.  The responsibility of the radiation therapist is to be able to use different radiation treatment devices.  For example, the radiation therapist must use the linear accelerator during external beam therapy.  The machine shoots a large amount of energy at the cancer cells in hopes of eventually destroying these cancer cells. 

Radiation therapy is usually used as a sole treatment in cancer patients but sometimes can be utilized in conjunction with other kinds of therapy like chemotherapy and surgery. Another part of the job description contained in the radiation therapist jobs is related to the treatment phase. The responsibilities of the therapists also include monitoring entire physical condition of the patient including determining whatever adverse effects of the drug has on the patient's condition. It is not only the skills that count but a large amount of empathy in order to provide the emotional support which is deemed very important in this situation.

Patients suffering from cancer need all of the physical and emotional support due to the good amount of stress that they are suffering from during the course of the illness. It is part of the radiation therapist responsibility to take care of the patient's record which includes all the necessary details of the treatment. In administering the patient's record, it is necessary that all information be included especially concerning the drugs and medicines being provided in the treatment and the adverse affects to the patient's condition, if any. There are very relevant details that should be included that are the dates, time and amount of the radiation that has been administered to the patient. It is via patient's record that the other attending physicians and oncologists will know whether the treatment is working well for the patient. This also helps in monitoring the total amount of radiation the patient is exposed to and to keep the harmful effects that radiation brings to a minimum.

The therapists works as the assistant of the medical radiation physicist and other members of the medical team in ascertaining that the best treatments are being provided to the patient through the linear accelerator. The therapist is also the reason for seeing to it that the devices used in the middle of treatment are monitored regularly for any signs of maintenance problems.