Who is on your radiation oncology treatment team?
Your Radiation Oncology Treatment Team 1 Radiation Oncologists 2 Nurses 3 Radiation Therapists 4 Medical Physicists 5 Medical Dosemitrists 6 Medical Office Assistants 7 Medical Assistant
How does the radiation therapist position Me on the table?
The radiation therapist positions you on the CT table in a reproducible position. The team will attempt to make you as comfortable as possible, as this will be your position every day for your radiation treatments.
How does radiation oncology work?
In external beam radiation, a machine called a linear accelerator is used to produce a beam of rays that is directed to the tumor or the part of your body that is being treated. CT simulation is performed in the radiation oncology suite in the Cancer Institute. This is the first step in creating a personalized radiation treatment plan for you.
Do radiation oncologists work closely with other physicians?
They work closely with other physicians and all members of the radiation oncology team. Radiation oncologists have completed four years of college, four years of medical school, one year of general medical training, then four years of residency (specialty) training in radiation oncology.
What is a radiation oncology medical physicist?
Radiation Oncology Medical Physicists (ROMPs) are experts on the physics of radiation, especially the interaction of radiation with the human body when used to identify the location of and treat cancer.
What do radiation oncology physicists do?
The Role of a Radiation Oncology Medical Physicist Dosimetrists create and review treatment plans and take in vivo radiation measurements to ensure accuracy of each patient's specific treatment plan.
What is the role of medical physicist in brachytherapy?
A therapeutic medical physicist is responsible for reviewing radiation therapy treatment plans and patient charts, including initial treatment plans and new chart review, on treatment chart (weekly) review, and end of treatment chart review for both external beam radiation and brachytherapy.
Does LSU have a radiation therapy program?
Our programs provide training necessary for careers in medical physics and health physics. Medical physicists play a vital role in the delivery of health care in a variety of settings. Typically, medical physicists specialize in radiation therapy, diagnostic imaging, or nuclear medicine.
Who performs radiation therapy?
Radiation therapy is usually given in private clinics or large hospitals. Treatment is given by trained staff called nuclear medicine specialists or radiation therapists. The treatment will be supervised by radiation oncologists who are the main treating medical specialists for people getting radiation therapy.
Who administers radiotherapy?
Therapeutic radiographers operate the machines that give you your treatment. They are trained in radiotherapy and patient care, and work with the oncologist and physicist to plan and deliver your treatment.
How does radiation therapy work physics?
Radiation used for cancer treatment is called ionizing radiation because it forms ions Page 4 (electrically charged particles) in the cells of the tissues it passes through. It creates ions by removing electrons from atoms and molecules. This can kill cells or change genes so the cells stop growing.
How do you become a radiation physicist?
In order to qualify for certification, a radiation physicist must hold a bachelor's degree in physics and a master's degree or doctorate in medical physics, radiological physics or a related degree. In a physics program, you'll take core classes in science, mathematics and computers.
Is radiation therapy the same as radiation oncology?
Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment that uses high-energy x-ray or other particles to destroy cancer cells. A doctor who specializes in giving radiation therapy to treat cancer is called a radiation oncologist.
Can a radiographer become a radiation therapist?
The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) offers a credential in radiation therapy: the ARRT (T). Upon graduation, an individual is then able to register with ARRT to complete an examination, the passing of which is a prerequisite to becoming a certified radiation therapist.
How do I become a radiation therapist in Louisiana?
How to Become a Radiology Technologist in LouisianaComplete an educational program in a chosen modality. Louisiana and the ARRT require radiologic technologists to complete an educational program in their chosen modality. ... Take the certification exam. ... Apply for a license. ... Maintain your license.
Is radiation therapy hard?
Radiation therapy can be challenging, just like any other medical career. Yet, most of the challenges can be resolved through education and experience.
How does radiation help cancer?
When radiation is combined with surgery, it can be given: 1 Before surgery, to shrink the size of the cancer so it can be removed by surgery and be less likely to return. 2 During surgery, so that it goes straight to the cancer without passing through the skin. Radiation therapy used this way is called intraoperative radiation. With this technique, doctors can more easily protect nearby normal tissues from radiation. 3 After surgery to kill any cancer cells that remain.
Why do people with cancer need radiation?
Why People with Cancer Receive Radiation Therapy. Radiation therapy is used to treat cancer and ease cancer symptoms . When used to treat cancer, radiation therapy can cure cancer, prevent it from returning, or stop or slow its growth. When treatments are used to ease symptoms, they are known as palliative treatments.
What is intraoperative radiation therapy?
During surgery, so that it goes straight to the cancer without passing through the skin. Radiation therapy used this way is called intraoperative radiation.
What is brachytherapy with liquid source?
Learn more about brachytherapy. Internal radiation therapy with a liquid source is called systemic therapy. Systemic means that the treatment travels in the blood to tissues throughout your body, seeking out and killing cancer cells.
What is the best radiation treatment for thyroid cancer?
A systemic radiation therapy called radioactive iodine, or I-131, is most often used to treat certain types of thyroid cancer.
What is the treatment for cancer that has spread to the bone called?
Pain from cancer that has spread to the bone can be treated with systemic radiation therapy drugs called radiopharmaceuticals.
What is external beam radiation therapy?
External Beam Radiation Therapy. External beam radiation therapy comes from a machine that aims radiation at your cancer. The machine is large and may be noisy. It does not touch you, but can move around you, sending radiation to a part of your body from many directions.
How Does Radiation Therapy Work?
Radiation destroys the ability of cells to divide and grow. Both normal and cancer cells are affected, but the radiation treatment is designed to maximize killing the cancer cells and minimize adverse effects on the normal cells.
Are there risks involved?
There are some risks involved with any type of cancer treatment. Side effects may be apparent because radiation can affect both normal cells and cancer cells. Usually these side effects are outweighed by the benefit of killing cancer cells.
How is radiation therapy delivered?
In radiation therapy, a machine directs high energy radiation (x-rays) to the cancer and to some of the normal tissue around it. At the LSU-SVM Cancer Treatment Unit, a linear accelerator is used. Each treatment only takes approximately 15-30 minutes. Typically treatments are done daily (M-F) and patients are allowed to go home the same day.
Is radiation therapy expensive?
Treatment of cancer with radiation therapy can be costly. It involves very complex equipment as well as the expertise of many health care professionals. The exact cost of radiation therapy varies with the type and number of treatments required.
How long does the treatment take?
Radiation therapy is given in a series of treatments (called fractions) administered on consecutive weekdays or once per week. This schedule helps protect normal, healthy tissue by spreading out the total dose of radiation over a period of time.
What are the effects of the treatment?
During the course of treatment, the therapists and oncologists will monitor the effect of the radiation on the cancer as well as on the normal tissue. It may be necessary to alter the radiation plan or treatment schedule because of changes in the tumor or normal tissue, but this is not usually necessary.
What happens after treatment?
It is important for your oncologist to examine your pet periodically after radiation therapy is complete. Typically, post-radiation re-checks are scheduled at 2 weeks, and 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after treatment. Re-checks after this time are usually scheduled at 3-6 month intervals, depending on the type of tumor your pet has.
Overview
A Medical Physics Residency Program has operated at the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center (MBPCC) since 2009. MBPCC is a community-owned not-for-profit cancer treatment facility located in Baton Rouge about 6 miles from the LSU campus.
Curriculum
The residency program follows the intent of AAPM Report 90, “Essentials and Guidelines for Hospital-Based Medical Physics Residency Training Programs.” The two-year Program consists of parallel tracks of clinical rotations and independent projects.
Eligibility
The Program accepts M.S. and Ph.D. graduates of CAMPEP-accredited Medical Physics Programs; we also accept postdoctoral fellows who have worked at least 2 years in radiation oncology physics and have completed appropriate medical physics courses (see AAPM Report 197S ). LSU medical physics M.S. and Ph.D.
Stipend
Residents receive a stipend from MBPCC at the same rate as physician PGY-1 and PGY-2 residents in regional medical residencies of the LSU System for the first and second years of residency, respectively.
Contact
Please visit the MBPCC residency website. To request additional information, please contact
What is a daily radiation treatment appointment?
The daily treatment appointment is when you receive the radiation therapy as prescribed by your radiation oncologist. The number of treatments and days you receive treatment depends on the treatment area and disease, as well as your radiation oncologist’s recommendation based upon your individual treatment plan.
What is the purpose of radiation therapy?
About Radiation Oncology. During radiation therapy, high energy X-rays are used to treat cancer by killing the cancer cells or making them unable to grow and divide . In external beam radiation, a machine called a linear accelerator is used to produce a beam of rays that is directed to the tumor or the part of your body that is being treated.
What is the phone number for radiation oncology?
Speak to your nurse or physician about any questions or concerns you have related to the skin in your treatment area. For radiation oncology, please call 717-531-8024 during normal business hours (8 a.m. - 4 p.m.) and follow the phone menu prompts.
Where is CT simulation performed?
CT simulation is performed in the radiation oncology suite in the Cancer Institute. This is the first step in creating a personalized radiation treatment plan for you. The plan targets the affected area while minimizing the radiation dose to healthy tissues and organs.
Can you see anything during radiation treatment?
The treatment begins. The machine may rotate around you, but will not touch you. You are not able to see anything during treatment, but you may hear a buzzing and clicking sound. Please remain still and breathe normally until the radiation therapists come back into the room and state that the treatment is completed.
Do you have to check out at the front desk for radiation?
When your treatment is completed for the day, you are escorted to the gowned waiting room to change. There is no need to check-out at the front desk after you are dressed. Prior to leaving, you will receive a schedule of upcoming radiation therapy treatment dates and times.
Do radiation oncologists take X-rays?
The team reads measurements and steps out of the room to begin treatment. Depending upon the orders your radiation oncologist provided, the radiation therapists may take X-rays prior to your treatment. This is used as another tool to ensure you are in the correct position. The imaging may or may not be used every day.
What is the cancer treatment unit?
The Cancer Treatment Unit was formed in 1998 to aid in the diagnosis, care, and treatment of veterinary patients with cancer. The facility has two major service units—medical oncology (chemotherapy) and radiation oncology.
How does radiation kill cancer cells?
Radiation oncologists use radiation to kill cancer cells locally. This allows cancers that cannot be cured with surgery alone to be treated effectively. With the incorporation of radiation it is often possible to perform a less aggressive surgery than would otherwise be necessary. The radiation oncology service of the CTU uses a linear accelerator to deliver a high energy beam of radiation to the tumor. The LSU CTU is one of the only veterinary schools in the country that uses a multileaf collimator to perform intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). This technology allows the radiation beam to be tightly conformed to the tumor contour, sparing normal tissues in the radiation area. This permits precise delivery of a high dose of radiation to the tumor, while sparing critical normal tissues.
How does oncology work?
The oncology service works from a team approach, so a patient requiring chemotherapy and radiation therapy has the benefit of being evaluated by specialists in each of these fields, who then design a treatment protocol tailored to their individual needs.
Can a vet have chemotherapy?
Medical oncologists deal with patients that have cancers requiring chemotherapy. There are many different types of chemotherapy agents for use in veterinary cancer patients. The protocol chosen will depend on the cancer type, as well as how advanced the cancer is when evaluated by the CTU oncologists. Most veterinary patients tolerate chemotherapy much better than their human counterparts, and advances in the control of chemotherapy induced side effects has greatly decreased the incidence of common toxicities like nausea and vomiting. Most owners of pets undergoing chemotherapy for cancer will describe their pet’s quality of life as excellent (normal) during therapy.
