A career in….A career in….

Radiation TherapyRadiation Therapy

Angelina MercuriAngelina MercuriRadiation TherapistRadiation Therapist

Austin Health Radiation Oncology CentreAustin Health Radiation Oncology Centre

What is Radiation What is Radiation Therapy?Therapy?

Radiation Therapy is the precise use of high Radiation Therapy is the precise use of high energy radiation to treat cancer & other energy radiation to treat cancer & other conditionsconditions

~50-60% of cancer patients are treated with ~50-60% of cancer patients are treated with radiationradiation

RADIATIONRADIATIONExternal Beam RT

Brachytherapy

http://www.brachytherapy.com/prost-brachy.html

The Radiation Oncology The Radiation Oncology TeamTeamRadiation Radiation OncologistOncologist

Radiation Radiation TherapistTherapist

Radiation Radiation PhysicistPhysicist

NurseNurse

DietitianDietitian

Occupational Occupational TherapistTherapist

Social WorkerSocial Worker

Admin StaffAdmin Staff

The Radiation Oncology The Radiation Oncology TeamTeamRadiation Radiation OncologistOncologist

Radiation Radiation TherapistTherapist

Radiation Radiation PhysicistPhysicist

NurseNurse

DietitianDietitian

Occupational Occupational TherapistTherapist

Social WorkerSocial Worker

Admin StaffAdmin Staff

The Radiation The Radiation Therapist’s roleTherapist’s role

Radiation Therapists are Radiation Therapists are responsible for the responsible for the design of treatment design of treatment plans & the plans & the administration of administration of radiation treatment to radiation treatment to cancer patientscancer patients

Following the prescriptions of Radiation Following the prescriptions of Radiation Oncologists, Radiation Therapists use simulators Oncologists, Radiation Therapists use simulators &/or CT scanners to identify areas to be treated & &/or CT scanners to identify areas to be treated & those to be avoidedthose to be avoided

Patients are immobilised Patients are immobilised using specially designed using specially designed equipmentequipment

Planning involves Planning involves developing a customised developing a customised treatment plan that delivers treatment plan that delivers precise radiation dose to the precise radiation dose to the diseased area, with minimal diseased area, with minimal dose to healthy surrounding dose to healthy surrounding tissuetissue

A variety of imaging A variety of imaging modalities are utilised to modalities are utilised to aid in definition of the aid in definition of the target volume/diseased target volume/diseased areaarea

Treatment involves positioning & stabilising Treatment involves positioning & stabilising patients & operating treatment machines & patients & operating treatment machines & computer verification systems to precisely deliver computer verification systems to precisely deliver the planned treatmentthe planned treatment

Patients are monitored during treatment, with the Patients are monitored during treatment, with the Radiation Therapist advising about self-care &/or Radiation Therapist advising about self-care &/or referring the patient to other members of the teamreferring the patient to other members of the team

Study PathwayStudy PathwayMedical Radiations

Undergraduate DegreeRMIT

Year 12Non Year 12 &

Mature Age Students

Master of Radiation Therapy

MONASH

Biomedical Science

Science Other Qualification

4 yrs

2 yrs

OR

My career pathMy career path 2000-20022000-2002 Bachelor of Biomedical ScienceBachelor of Biomedical Science

2003-2005 2003-2005 Master of Radiation TherapyMaster of Radiation Therapy- Physics & Instrumentation for - Physics & Instrumentation for

Radiation TherapyRadiation Therapy- Professional Practice- Professional Practice- Clinical Studies- Clinical Studies- Radiobiology & Dosimetry- Radiobiology & Dosimetry- Radiation Therapy Planning & - Radiation Therapy Planning &

TreatmentTreatment- Clinical Research in Radiation - Clinical Research in Radiation

TherapyTherapy

2005- 2005- Qualified Radiation Therapist -Qualified Radiation Therapist -Austin HealthAustin Health

Application of Science in Application of Science in RTRT

Anatomy & Pathology:Anatomy & Pathology: Performing image Performing image acquisition & interpretation to localise tumour acquisition & interpretation to localise tumour volumes volumes

Physics:Physics: Modeling beam arrangements on Modeling beam arrangements on planning computers to maximise tumour dose & planning computers to maximise tumour dose & minimise dose to healthy surrounding tissueminimise dose to healthy surrounding tissue

Physiology:Physiology: Identifying & giving self-care Identifying & giving self-care instructions to patients with radiation side effectsinstructions to patients with radiation side effects

Psychology:Psychology: Dealing with the psychosocial Dealing with the psychosocial issues associated with cancer diagnosis & issues associated with cancer diagnosis & treatmenttreatment

Research in Radiation Research in Radiation TherapyTherapy

Development of departmental Development of departmental protocolsprotocols

Presentation at national & Presentation at national & international conferencesinternational conferences

Publication at national & Publication at national & international levelsinternational levels

Opportunities for Radiation Opportunities for Radiation TherapistsTherapists

Specialised procedures:Specialised procedures: Stereotactic RT & RadiosurgeryStereotactic RT & Radiosurgery Intensity Modulated RTIntensity Modulated RT Total Body IrradiationTotal Body Irradiation BrachytherapyBrachytherapy

Research Research Administration/Managerial Administration/Managerial

experienceexperience Education/Student supervisionEducation/Student supervision Postgraduate studyPostgraduate study

Timely AdviceTimely Advice Keep an open mindKeep an open mind Choose a career that meets your Choose a career that meets your

interests & makes you happyinterests & makes you happy Attend information sessions & open days Attend information sessions & open days Consider work experience in your Consider work experience in your

chosen fieldchosen field A scientific mind can be applied to A scientific mind can be applied to

challenge oneself in many wayschallenge oneself in many ways Age is no barrier to success- don’t be Age is no barrier to success- don’t be

afraid to set the bar highafraid to set the bar high

THANK YOUTHANK YOU

& &

GOOD LUCKGOOD LUCK