Trying to figure out if Radiation Therapy is for me...

NAT

I'm currently a 1st year radiography student in a community college program [2-years in length]. As I finish the current summer semester, I'm feeling good about my training/development, and I'm confident that I'll eventually be an asset to an employer somewhere. With that said, I'm probably one of the more fortunate students in that I have plenty of federal tuition assistance to spend, via the MGIB, and I'm determined to continue my education. Being 41 years old, this training equals a second career for me.

I've thought long and hard about other modalities such as CT, MRI. I’ve also thought about B.S. in radiography.

Lately, I've been giving radiation therapy some thought. I've read job the description from the bureau of labor statistics website. I've also perused the ASTRO website. With salary NOT being a motivating factor, how would I know if radiation therapy is for me? I don't see myself as having problems working with the patients, but I wouldn't really know what it was like working with cancer patients until one was right in front of me. As for the schooling, I still don't have college algebra [with math being my weakest subject matter], so simply getting thru the curriculum could be a challenge.

Can anyone explain in a no-b.s. way of what it's like to be a radiation therapist? My main questions are;

1. Does the workload have an assembly-line mentality?
2. Is there allot of interaction with the doctors, and if so, what is it like? Are they difficult to deal with?
3. If you became a radiation therapist after radiography school, is radiation therapy more difficult, learning wise? Was there a high washout rate? Do students weak in algebra have a more difficult time? In addition, was learning in the clinical setting comparable to learning x-ray film?
4. Is it possible, and more importantly realistic, to become a radiation therapist while still working PRN in diagnostic x-ray? I ask this because my initial thought is why someone would not stay proficient in something that they’ve spent 2 years learning.

I don't feel pressured to make a decision yet. All I care about is finding something that gets my butt out of bed each morning with the thought of doing something meaningful. My immediate goals are graduating, registration as an RT(R) and finding employment to pay off some personal debts.

I really appreciate any feedback from therapists and/or students. I’m sure I’m coming across as a typical know-nothing student, but I’m never afraid to ask even the most mundane questions. Thanks in advance!

ImLookingThruU · Joined: 13 Aug 2006 Posts: 16 Location: Oregon

I posted this reply to your question on the other board, but a little redundancy never hurts.

During my CT class, I had to do a rotation at the local cancer treatment center, and it totally cemented my goal to become a radiation therapist. I used to be a medical assistant and worked in an oncology clinic for a while so I have familiarity with the particulars of cancer treatment.

The techs treat the patients with great respect and really get to know them well since the radiation treament is every day for like 4 weeks at a time. I don't really remember working with the oncologists that much, the techs for the most part seem to work more with the radiation physicist to determine treament plans.

I'm still a student in radiologic science, but I've definitely been looking at schools that offer radiation therapy, because I can apply some of the credits I've done for my BSRS towards that certificate. There are some courses that are particular to the radiation therapy program, but for the most part it seems pretty similar to radiography, especially since they use PET/CT a lot to locate cancers.
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ChiCubsfan · Joined: 12 Jul 2006 Posts: 15 Location: Newton, Ia.

Just wondering something...I too am gettting ready to go back to school after almost 20yrs. My company has decided to close doors and so I'm going to go to school for Radiology at 37yrs. old. WOW! little scary! I havent been accepted into the program yet but hope to know within the next month or so for the upcoming fall 07' class. My question is....Do you have to become a Radiology Technologist BEFORE you can move on to something more complicated like Nuclear Medicine or Radiation Therapy?? I dont have any degree's other than my diploma for highschool but when Rad tech school is over with will have an AAS degree I guess....Then to get a Bachelors degree I could go into Radiation therapy right? or CT or MRI, Nuclear, etc...? I would like to find a job that pays somewhere around 25, 30.00 an hr..(wouldnt we all?)...any help would be appreciated!

Ps. keep your fingers crossed for me I get accepted...my math isnt one of my strong points either and IF I dont get accepted that will be why...heck, Algebra wasnt required when I was in school and now my son is taking it in 7th. grade...UNBELIEVEABLE...but glad he is!...maybe he can teach me something
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