Introduction to Radiation Therapy Technology

What is Radiation Therapy?

The cancerous cell is considered to be an outlaw cell.  It is characterized by abnormalities in the division and replication phase of the cell cycle. The result of this uncontrollable division is a lump, termed a malignant tumor or mass.

Radiation therapy is one of the most common treatments for cancer and is prescribed in more than half of all cancer cases.  It works on the premise that cancerous cells are more sensitive than normal cells to the damaging effects of radiation.  Radiation therapy uses high energy X-rays, gamma rays, electron beams, or other ionizing radiation to produce biologic changes in the DNA of such a cell.  Altering the DNA in this way causes cell death at the time of division, potentially eliminating the malignancy.  Many people become free of cancer after receiving radiation treatment alone or in combination with surgery, chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy.  It is the radiation therapist who targets the area to be treated and delivers the radiation dose to the patient.

Today, radiation therapy is one of the most technically advanced modalities for the treatment of cancer.  Conformal therapy using Multileaf Collimation, Intensity Modulation and Respiratory Gating direct the treatment beam to the tumor while sparing the surrounding healthy area.  Although some normal cells may be affected by radiation, this is temporary with most recovering fully from the effects of the treatment.

What Are the Job Prospects For Radiation Therapists?

The shortage of radiation therapists has tripled since 1995 and will continue to grow through the next decade.  Based on the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, by 2010 the country will need an additional 7,000 radiation therapists. Job opportunities are plentiful with most radiation therapists working in cancer treatment clinics and hospitals.  Some of these are research hospitals dedicated specifically to the care and treatment of the cancer patient.  With a strong commitment from the medical community for early detection and early cure, and with evolutionary advancements in technology, future prospects for this career choice are above average.

The information on this page is maintained by the Radiation Therapy Technology Program Coordinator, Carol Chovanec.