Radiation Therapy: A Career That Multiplies Hope, If You Can Hack It

How to decide if you have what it takes to be a radiation therapist, one of the most satisfying yet emotionally challenging career options available in health care today

Cancer: just six letters and two syllables that have the power to induce terror. The mere mention of this disease causes heavy anxiety, and it’s easy to see why. You can be young and fit, a non-drinker, non-smoker, healthy eater and sunscreen addict—basically good to your body in every conceivable way—and still be inflicted by “The Big C.” How is this possible?

The American Cancer Society defines cancer as “a group of diseases characterized by uncontrollable growth and spread of abnormal cells.” My non-scientific brain wraps itself around this concept by conjuring up images from Super Mario Galaxy, a game I became obsessed with after buying my Nintendo Wii. In one level, Mario (the character I play) has to go up against an especially difficult enemy, but if he isn’t victorious within a certain amount of time, the enemy begins to multiply.

It’s that kind of resilience that makes cancer so terrifying. But, that’s also what makes the health care professionals that have chosen to help cancer patients so special. Radiation therapy is a field that can utilize your courageous and caring attitude. If you’ve got what it takes, you might one day enable people who face the terror of multiplying enemies to feel more hope instead. First, though, you should know what you could be getting into. This career is no video game.

Learn the facts about cancer

The numbers associated with cancer are scary.  There are more than 200 different types of cancer. Almost one in four deaths in the U.S. are attributed to cancer. According to The American Cancer Society, 1,529,560 new cancer cases were expected to be diagnosed in 2010 alone.  But, to me, this is The American Cancer Society’s most frightening statistic: Half of all men and one-third of all women in the U.S. are expected to develop cancer at some point in their lifetimes.

These statistics are enough to catapult even the most positive-minded people into an anxiety attack. However, there are more optimistic numbers. The National Cancer Institute estimates about 11.5 million Americans diagnosed with cancer were survivors as of January, 2006—they were either free from cancer or continuing treatments. Such survival statistics wouldn’t be possible without the people who dedicate their careers to cancer treatment and research. Radiation therapists are an important part of this brave and compassionate group.

Understand what radiation therapy actually is

Jayne Belanger, the clinical coordinator of radiation therapy for The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre, is a spirited and caring professional. Her advice could prove invaluable to anyone considering radiation therapy as a career.

My own limited knowledge of radiation therapy extended only as far as hearing it was once part of a family member’s cancer treatment regime (which, I’m happy to say, means it was at least partly responsible for the fact that she has been in remission for quite some time now). I’ve always been curious about how it works. Radiation therapy sounds like such an oxymoron. (Isn’t radiation listed among the known causes of cancer?)

Turns out, the type of ionizing radiation used in this therapy actually helps to destroy the DNA of cancerous cells when it is applied to a patient through high-tech machines. “For a lot of cancer patients, radiation therapy is a very important part of their cancer treatment,” says Belanger, “sometimes combined with surgeries, sometimes combined with chemotherapy, and sometimes used alone. It depends on the situation. We use it in both a radical sense to cure people, and in a palliative sense to relieve symptoms.”

Radiation therapists, however, do much more than just the actual radiation therapy procedures. For instance, at The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre, a radiation therapist’s average day begins by inspecting the treatment machine to ensure it is working properly. Next, they will deliver any scheduled treatments to patients. But, this goes beyond just applying the radiation; it also involves educating patients about their treatments, giving them instructions on how to care for themselves, and informing them about any side effects they may experience due to the treatment.

Choose the right education for the job

Belanger says the standard of education needed for becoming a radiation therapist can vary greatly, depending on your location, but that a common requirement is a Bachelor of Science degree in medical radiation science. This is usually a four-year program, which often includes at least a year of clinical practice. Developing other types of skills and knowledge can also prove useful in a radiation therapy career. “Radiation therapists need to be able to communicate both with the staff and the patients they are working with,” Belanger says. “They also need to have good computer skills. The field has gone very high tech, and everything is computerized now.”

When hiring a radiation therapist, Belanger seeks many qualities that must come naturally, rather than having been taught in a university.  “Radiation therapists have to act in a professional manner, they have to dress in a professional manner, and they need to be responsible for their own actions,” she says. “I mean, mistakes happen. That’s the way of the world. But if you make mistakes, you need to own up to them.” She adds, “A strong work ethic is what we are looking for, along with honesty and reliability.”