Radiation oncology is a medical specialty that
involves treating cancer with radiation. Doctors who specialize in this are called
radiation oncologists.
Radiation therapy uses carefully targeted and
regulated doses of high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells. Radiation causes
some cancer cells to die immediately after treatment, but most die because the
radiation damages the chromosomes and DNA so that the cells can no longer
divide and the tumor cannot grow.
Job
Description
The radiation oncologist is responsible for
assessing the patient by clinical evaluation, and organizing imaging and other
tests, in order to establish a management plan for an individual. Often, this
is done in conjunction with other members of the team. Radiation oncologists
are thus an integral part of the overall management of cancer patients.
Radiation oncologists have overall responsibility of
determining and prescribing the most suitable dose of radiation to deliver in a
particular case, and the method and technique by which this will be achieved. The
application of their clinical and technical expertise aims at optimizing the
benefit of radiation therapy for their patients, whether the goal is to cure
cancer or alleviate symptoms e.g. pain.
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