How to become A Radiation Oncologist

Hope and healing are priceless gifts in human life. Radiation Oncologists, through their challenging and highly specialised work, strive to plan and administer radiotherapy and provide aftercare to treat cancer patients. Radiation therapy may be the only treatment provided or combined with surgery or chemotherapy. On the journey to cure humankind, Radiation Oncologists must protect themselves from accidental exposure and its undesirable consequences.

• Radiation Therapist
• Therapeutic Radiographer 
• Radiotherapist 
• Registered Radiation Therapist
• Radiographer

What do Radiation Oncologists do?

A Radiation Oncologist would typically need to:

• Create and implement a treatment plan for patients in collaboration with other therapeutic radiographers, oncologists and medical physicists to shrink and get rid of cancerous tumours
• Build trust and confidence in patients and their carers, explain the treatment plan and answer their queries so that they can make informed decisions
• Advise patients on how to manage the acute and long-term side-effects of radiotherapy side effects; ensure proper patient care post-treatment
• Calculate the exact radiation dosage for each patient using specialised machinery called linear accelerators 
• Examine machines for safe working; operate equipment with confidence and responsibility, adhering to safety protocol to protect patients and themselves from overexposure 
• Closely monitor the patient to detect unusual side effects from the treatment; record the treatment and outcomes in details
• Actively engage in continuing professional development (CPD) and encourage colleagues to keep learning and refreshing their knowledge and skills
• Liaise with non-medical and medical staff, including medical physicists, engineers and nurses; attend meetings
• Maintain and update computer-based records, ensuring their accuracy and accessibility
• Provide health advice and take up projects that raise awareness of cancer

Radiation therapists work in healthcare or cancer treatment facilities. Safety procedures against overexposure are paramount when working with radiation and radioactive material. As a result, Radiation Oncologists sometimes stand in a different room than where treatment takes place.

Typically, Radiation Oncologists wear a uniform and protective clothing, as needed.

You may have an opportunity to work in hospitals, clinics or research establishments overseas. You may also need to travel to attend conferences and seminars.

Your core workday will typically last from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m across a 37.5-hour working week. While most Radiation Oncologists work full time, others may prefer to work part-time or engage in job sharing. Procedures planned in advance allow for a fairly regular work schedule. Occasionally, you would need to present yourself on weekends, holidays or at night to help treat emergency cases.

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Radiation Oncologists can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies. Given that radiotherapy is a niche profession, contact the employers you wish to work with directly or organise an elective placement with them. 

Radiation Oncologists are generally employed by: 

• Public & Private Hospitals & Clinics
• Physicians’ Offices
• Outpatient Centres
• Laboratories
• Community Health Centres
• Research Establishments
• Academic or Training Institutions
• Equipment Manufacturers

Healthcare associations provide unparalleled networking and educational opportunities. They offer all the certification courses members will need throughout their professional careers. Affiliated Radiation Oncologists may attend conventions, seminars, and dinners frequented by peers, mentors, and other industry leaders. The events help them keep up with the newest breakthroughs and latest developments in the field, including plum jobs.

• The risk of overexposure and the constant need to strictly follow safety protocol for all concerned
• Being resilient enough to cope with the palliative or end-of-life treatment of patients diagnosed with life-threatening conditions
• Limited opportunities for self-employment or freelance work 
• The need for physical strength to move patients and equipment

Acquiring experience in a radiotherapy department before you apply for a relevant course proves your commitment to course providers and provides you insights into the career. Volunteer work in a healthcare facility will show you if you feel at ease working with seriously ill patients.

Any academic program that a potential Radiation Oncologist takes up typically requires a period of supervised experience, such as an internship. Read about the profession and interview or job shadow experts working in radiation oncology to learn from their experience.

The minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent qualifies aspiring Radiation Oncologists to undertake a certificate, associate or bachelor’s degree program in radiation therapy from an accredited organisation. Keep in mind that you would typically need two years each of mathematics and laboratory science classes at high school for admission into these programs.

A radiation therapy program includes courses in human anatomy & physiology, physics, algebra, pre-calculus, computer science, research methodology, and public speaking. Your coursework will also teach you radiation therapy procedures and the scientific theories upon which they are based. You would typically complement your coursework and lab studies with clinical rotations in medical settings in a paid or voluntary role to supplement your knowledge and skills. 

Take college preparatory courses in biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics. English and speech classes will help you develop your research, writing, and oral communication skills.

Certification demonstrates a Radiation Oncologist’s competence in a skill set, typically through work experience, training, and passing an examination. 

Certification from an objective and reputed organisation can help you stand out in a competitive job market, carry a significant salary premium of up to 18 per cent, increase your chances of advancement, and allow you to become an independent consultant. Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics.

Individual government entities conduct the licensing process. In locations that mandate licensure for Radiation Oncologists, you must typically pass an examination in addition to the fulfilment of eligibility requirements, such as a minimum level of education, work experience, training, or the completion of an internship, residency, or apprenticeship. Usually, such an exam would test both knowledge and practical skills and cover clinical concepts, radiation protection protocol, treatment planning & administration, patient care & education.

You may also need to acquire CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) or BLS( basic life support) certification to support patients in emergencies.

Performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications drive career progression. Employees with consistently high levels of performance may be eligible for promotion every two to three years. 

You may specialise in specific techniques, such as ionising or non-ionising radiation methods or equipment or in working with particular groups of patients, such as children.

Typically, you would rise to become Senior Radiographers, then Superintendent and Consultant Radiographer. As a Consultant Practitioner, you would contribute to planning services and taking up research, education and quality assurance.

Movement into a radiotherapy service management role would make you responsible for long-term strategy and day-to-day operations planning. You could manage a department or work in a general management role.

Sometimes, career progression may require you to change jobs.

You could also engage with charity work, helping with quality assurance or providing information or patient support services. If you wish to transition into research or academics, you could pursue a PhD program. 

Candidates with the necessary skills, experience, and a bachelor’s or associate degree in radiation therapy have the best job prospects.

Continuing professional development (CPD) is essential in the healthcare sector for public wellbeing and career progression. It embraces several new learning objectives, educational methodologies, and novel technological developments, especially in education, management, and IT.

Reflective learning, interaction with peer groups, comprehensive inclusion, workshops, and professional publications serve to educate, influence, support, and foster lifelong enlightenment in all career-grade Radiation Oncologists.

New graduates in the field of radiation oncology go through an induction period followed by preceptorship to get a solid grasp of their company's policies and procedures. Through the process of induction, you may review your practice under a senior colleague.

Continuing education (CE) offered by professional associations may be mandatory for certification renewal and typically reimbursed by employers. With further education and certification tucked away, Radiation Oncologists can become medical dosimetrists responsible for precise dose calculation.

DIFFERENT MODELS OF MEDICAL PRACTICE

A Radiation Oncologist can opt for a specific practice model from among the prevalent ones.

Solo Practice

Suburban or rural areas with significant medical needs and less competition suit solo practice. Remember that while you can grow and develop your unique style of medical care, it involves considerable effort, time and financial risk. 

Group Practice

The group practice may comprise single-speciality or multi-speciality providers. Physicians in this model enjoy financial security and have administrative staff to focus more time and energy on patient care. However, autonomy and decision-making ability decrease, increasing the risk of conflict around significant practice issues. Larger practices also tend to become more bureaucratic and policy-driven.

Employed Physician Practice

The physician can focus on practising medicine because the employer takes over the financial and administrative responsibilities of running the practice. However, your work schedule and activities will be controlled by those who develop the policies and procedures.

Other Types of Medical Practice

Some physicians work as independent contractors in a solo or group practice; they may share financial responsibility and flexibility in clinical practice but may not be free to make all decisions.

Locum tenens (literally “place holder”) is an alternative to more permanent employment. Locum tenens positions are temporary (up to a year) offered by practices, hospitals, or healthcare organisations with an unfilled clinical need. The compensation rate is generally higher than what the permanent position would suggest. Locum tenens allows physicians to gauge a specific type of practice or location without committing to long-term employment.

What is an Oncologist?

An oncologist studies, diagnoses and treats patients with tumours and cancers. Also called cancer specialists, they are qualified and licensed physicians or surgeons who specialise in managing this disease caused by an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in the body.

You may choose to become a medical oncologist, surgical oncologist, or radiation oncologist. Medical oncologists administer drugs to kill cancer cells. Surgical oncologists carry out surgical interventions to identify and remove cancerous tumours. Radiation Oncologists use radiation therapy to treat the disease. Modern therapy centres around the collaboration among these specialists and teamwork with pathologists, nurses and lab technicians.

How Does Radiation Therapy Work?

High-dose radiation destroys cells or prevents their growth and division. Since cancer cells grow and divide faster than neighbouring normal cells, radiation therapy is a successful tool to combat cancer. Although it also impacts normal cells, most recover from the effects of radiation, unlike diseased cells. Limiting the doses and interspersing them over some time helps protect normal cells. Careful and accurate targeting of the cancerous site also shields normal tissue to the maximum.

Types of Therapies

Hyperfractionated radiation therapy divides the radiation dose into smaller fractions administered more than once a day. Hypofractionated radiation therapy is carried out in one or only a few sessions. Image-guided radiation therapy or IGRT uses imaging equipment, including CT, ultrasound or X-rays, preceding the treatment to assess if the treatment needs modification. Modulated radiation therapy or IMRTI uses external beam therapy to allow the radiation to fit the tumour. Interstitial brachytherapy places radioactive sources in the tumour itself. Intracavitary brachytherapy places radioactive sources into a space where the tumour is located, such as the cervix or windpipe, for instance.

Radiation therapy is typically administered using machines called linear accelerators, which channel high-energy x-rays at specific cancer cells in a patient's body to shrink or eliminate them. 

Whether offering curative or palliative treatment, Radiation Oncologists must not only help patients, carers, and physicians manage the disease but must also thoroughly understand its physical nature and emotional impact. With cancer on the upswing and measures to combat it also growing, Radiation Oncologists are in the thick of the action and are equipped to contribute to further research. 

Clinicians today are equipped with the technology to modify and adapt plans not just daily but even mid-treatment. You must figure out how best to use the available tools to deliver optimal care to your patients. Aim to minimise errors by continually refreshing and improving your knowledge and skills.