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.
