Targeting Cancer

The radiation therapist’s goal is to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors. Being a radiation therapist requires precision and attention to detail. The market for therapists in the Metro area is currently very competitive.

By Nancy Giguere, Star Tribune Sales and Marketing

Last update: March 26, 2009 - 10:13 AM

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Career Satisfaction
Radiation therapists need emotional stamina and genuine interest in people. Because therapists see patients every day over a long period of time, they really get to know them. Although not everyone improves, most therapists find it satisfying to play such an important role in a patient's treatment.

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For Sara Unbehaun, the professional is also personal. "My mother developed cancer when I was a teenager, so it gives me a good feeling to know that I'm helping others with this disease," says Unbehaun, lead radiation therapist at St. John's Hospital in Maplewood (www.stjohnshospital-mn.org).

Attention To Detail

The radiation therapist administers a prescribed dose of radiation to patients using a machine called a linear accelerator. "Our goal is to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors, while limiting harm to surrounding normal tissue," Unbehaun explains.

It's a job that calls for precision and attention to detail. Therapists typically see the same patients daily, often for as long as six or seven weeks. They must position patients in exactly the same way every day to deliver the dose effectively. At St. John's, therapists work in pairs. After positioning the patient, one delivers the radiation, while the other enters data into the patient's chart.

Therapists are members of a care team that includes the radiation oncologist, who determines the amount and type of treatment; the radiation physicist, who ensures that the equipment works properly; the dosimetrist who calculates the exact dose; and the radiation nurse, who answers questions and helps patients manage side effects.

Education And Outlook

Many therapists complete a two- or four-year degree in radiation therapy. Others complete an associate or a bachelor's degree program in radiography - the study of X-ray technology - followed by a 12-month certificate program in radiation therapy. Most employers also require registration through the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (www.arrt.org).

Nationally, about three-quarters of therapists work in hospitals; the rest work in doctors' offices or outpatient care centers.

The market for therapists in the Metro area is currently very competitive. But new graduates willing to relocate should have no trouble finding a job, Unbehaun says.

Nancy Giguere is a freelance writer form St. Paul who has written about healthcare since 1995.

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