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| Who Are The Members Of The Radiation Therapy Team? |
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A team of highly trained medical professionals will be involved in your care during
radiation therapy. This team is led by a radiation oncologist, a doctor who specializes
in using radiation to treat cancer. |
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| Radiation Oncologists |
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Radiation oncologists are the doctors
who will oversee your radiation therapy
treatments. These physicians work with
the other members of the radiation
therapy team to develop and prescribe
your treatment plan and make sure that
each treatment is given accurately. Your
radiation oncologist will also track your
progress and adjust the treatment as
necessary to make sure you receive the
best care. Radiation oncologists help
identify and treat any side effects that may
occur due to radiation therapy. They
work closely with other cancer doctors,
including medical oncologists and
surgeons, and all members of the radiation oncology team. Radiation oncologists have completed at least four years of college, four years of
medical school, one year of general medical training and four years of residency
(specialty) training in radiation oncology. They have extensive training in cancer
medicine and the safe use of radiation to treat disease. If they pass a special
examination, they are certified by the American Board of Radiology. You should
ask if your doctor is board certified. |
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| Medical Physicists |
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Medical physicists work directly with the radiation
oncologist during treatment planning and delivery.
They oversee the work of the dosimetrist and help
ensure that complex treatments are properly tailored
for each patient. Medical physicists develop and direct
quality control programs for equipment and procedures.
They also make sure the equipment works properly by
taking precise measurements of the radiation beam and
performing other safety tests on a regular basis. |
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| Dosimetrists |
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Dosimetrists work with the radiation oncologist and medical physicist to carefully calculate the dose of radiation to make sure the tumor gets enough radiation. Using computers, they develop a treatment plan that can best destroy the tumor while sparing the healthy tissue. |
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| Radiation Therapists |
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Radiation therapists work with radiation oncologists
to give the daily radiation treatment under the doctor’s
prescription and supervision. They maintain daily
records and regularly check the treatment machines to
make sure they are working properly. |
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| Radiation Oncology Nurses |
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Radiation oncology nurses work with every member
of the treatment team to care for you and your family
before, during and after treatment. They will explain
the possible side effects you may experience and will
describe how you can manage them. They will assess
how you are doing throughout treatment and will help
you cope with the changes you are experiencing. If they
pass a special exam, they are certified by the Oncology
Nursing Exam as an Oncology Certified Nurse. |
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| Other Health Care Professionals |
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You may work with a number of other healthcare professionals while undergoing
radiation therapy. These specialists ensure that all of your physical and
psychological needs are met during your treatment. |
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| Social Workers |
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Social workers are available to provide a variety of support services to you and
your family. They can provide counseling to help you and your family cope with
the diagnosis of cancer and with your treatment. They may also help arrange for
home healthcare and other services. |
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| Nutritoinists |
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Nutritionists, also called dietitians, can help you maintain your weight during
treatment. They will help you modify your eating plan if the side effects of
treatment are affecting your appetite, will determine what you can eat and can
provide recipes, menu suggestions and information on ready-to-use nutritional
supplements. |
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| Physical Therapists |
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Physical therapists use exercises to help your body function properly while you
are undergoing treatment. These exercises can help manage side effects, alleviate
pain and keep you healthy. |
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| Dentists |
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Dentists may be involved if you are receiving radiation for oral or head and neck
cancers. They will help prevent the radiation from damaging the healthy areas
of your mouth, caring for teeth, gums and other tissues in the mouth, and may
recommend preventive dental work before radiation. They will also help manage
oral side effects of cancer therapy, such as dry mouth. |
