Medical Radiation Therapist Job
What is Radiation Therapy?
According to the National Cancer Institute, "Radiation therapy is the treatment of cancer and other diseases with ionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation deposits energy that injures or destroys cells in the area being treated (the "target tissue") by damaging their genetic material, making it impossible for these cells to continue to grow."
Radiation in high doses kills cells or keeps them from growing and dividing. Because cancer cells grow and divide more rapidly than most of the normal cells around them, radiation therapy can successfully treat many kinds of cancer.
Normal cells are also affected but, unlike cancer cells, most of them recover from the effects of radiation. To protect normal cells, radiation therapists carefully limit the doses of radiation and spread the treatment out over time. They also shield as much normal tissue as possible while they aim the radiation at the site of the cancer.
What does a Radiation Therapist do?
Radiation Therapists work closely with doctors, patients and other members of the health care team. They use advanced computer systems and radiation therapy equipment to design and implement treatment plans, including:
- Planning all treatment details, including calculating the radiation dose and simulating its distribution
- Positioning the patient and operating the radiation therapy equipment
- Constructing and fitting accessory devices that shape, modify and direct the administered radiation to destroy cancerous tissue
Therapists also play an important role in counseling patients on possible side effects from the treatment and provide advice on how best to minimize these effects. Because radiation treatments often extend over several weeks, a special supportive relationship often develops between the therapist, the patient and the patient's family.
Where do Radiation Therapists work?
They work in a variety of different environments, including:
- Practicing and providing care to patients in hospitals and private clinics
- Contributing to scientific advances within the profession by performing research studies
- Regulating radiation safety practices and working for government and other agencies
- Advancing into administrative and management positions
- Digital imaging systems administration
- Specializing in sales or new product development with commercial companies
- Educating future professionals in the medical radiation sciences
Career Opportunities
With new cancer facilities scheduled to open in Ontario in the near future, and a world-wide shortage of Radiation Therapists, many career opportunities exist for MRT graduates. The Radiation Therapy programs provide high quality education with credentials that are widely recognized; graduates can find positions around the world, including:
- Practicing as a frontline Therapist in a cancer center, providing treatment and care to patients
- Contributing to scientific advances within the profession by performing research studies
- Regulating radiation safety practices and working for government and other agencies
- Advancing into administrative and management positions
- Specializing in sales or new product development with commercial companies
- Training the next generation of Therapists as an educator in a clinical or academic environment
- Expanding on your patient care skills as a counselor
Graduates are eligible to write the national certification examinations conducted by the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists (CAMRT). Certification qualifies graduates to work across Canada and allows them to register with the College of Medical Radiation Technologists of Ontario (CMRTO).
Licensing
To become a licensed Medical Radiation Technologist in Canada you must:
- Complete a two- to three-year college, hospital school or other approved program in diagnostic radiography (for radiological technologists), nuclear medicine technology (for nuclear medicine technologists) or radiation therapy (for radiation therapists), or magnetic resonance (for medical imaging).
- You must be a certified Medical Radiation Technologist licensed with the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists.
- CAMRT certification requires candidates to:
- Obtain a passing score on the CAMRT certification exam, and
- Submit a completed Summary of Clinical Competence
Certification with CAMRT qualifies graduates to work across Canada and allows them to register with the College of Medical Radiation Technologists of Ontario (CMRTO).
For more information on licensing please visit www.camrt.ca
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