HealthcareISCO 3211
Radiation therapist
Radiation therapists are responsible for the accurate delivery of radiotherapy to cancer patients and, as part of the multidisciplinary team, for elements of treatment preparation and patient care. This encompasses the safe and accurate delivery of the radiation dose prescribed and the clinical care and support of the patient throughout the treatment preparation, treatment delivery and immediate post treatment phases.
Check yourself in a minute: radiation therapist
Rate 5 of the 51 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.
respond to changing situations in health care
provide pre-treatment information
provide anti-cancer medical treatment
provide psychological support to patients
conduct cancer screening tests
European Skills Framework
Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.
Essential (51)
hygiene in a health care settinghygiene in a health care settingThe procedures related to maintaining a hygienic environment within a health care setting such as hospitals and clinics. It can range from hand washing to cleaning and disinfection of medical equipmen...pharmaceutical productspharmaceutical productsThe offered pharmaceutical products, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.health care legislationhealth care legislationThe patients` rights and responsibilities of health practitioners and the possible repercussions and prosecutions in relation to medical treatment negligence or malpractice.medical terminologymedical terminologyThe meaning of medical terms and abbreviations, of medical prescriptions and various medical specialties and when to use it correctly.health care occupation-specific ethicshealth care occupation-specific ethicsThe moral standards and procedures, ethical questions and obligations specific to occupations in a health care setting such as respect for human dignity, self-determination, informed consent and patie...side effects of radiotherapy treatmentside effects of radiotherapy treatmentThe side effects and responses that patients can have after undergoing radiotherapy treatments.radiotherapyradiotherapyRadiotherapy is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.radiation physics in healthcareradiation physics in healthcareThe radiation physics related to conventional radiology, CT, MRI, ultrasound, diagnostic nuclear medicine and their principles such as areas of application, indications, contraindications, limitations...human physiologyhuman physiologyThe science that studies the human organs and its interactions and mechanisms.oncologic hormone therapyoncologic hormone therapyThe type of therapy used in treating cancer that stops the hormonal growth and effects of the cancer.medical contrast agentsmedical contrast agentsSubstances used in medical imaging techniques to reinforce the visibility of certain features in organs or cells.radiobiologyradiobiologyThe way ionising radiation interacts with a living organism, how it can be used to treat various cancers and its effects.dosimetric planningdosimetric planningThe planning and measurement of radiation amounts according to ICRU terminology.human anatomyhuman anatomyThe dynamic relationship of human structure and function and the muscosceletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, endocrine, urinary, reproductive, integumentary and nervous systems; normal and ...medical oncologymedical oncologyThe characteristics, development, diagnosis and treatment of tumors and cancer in human organisms.immunotherapyimmunotherapyThe type of therapy used to treat cancer by increasing the body's immune system's ability to fight it.psychological treatment measurespsychological treatment measuresThe psychological treatment measures for persons of all ages and groups, with the aim of improving treatment skills and the provisions of trans-cultural and gender aspects.influence of adjuvant treatment on radiotherapyinfluence of adjuvant treatment on radiotherapyThe influence of adjuvant treatment such as surgery and chemotherapy on radiotherapy dose prescription, timing of radiotherapy and post radiotherapy complications.radiation protectionradiation protectionThe measures and procedures used to protect people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionising radiation.first aidfirst aidThe emergency treatment given to a sick or injured person in the case of circulatory and/or respiratory failure, unconsciousness, wounds, bleeding, shock or poisoning.respond to changing situations in health carerespond to changing situations in health careCope with pressure and respond appropriately and in time to unexpected and rapidly changing situations in healthcare.provide pre-treatment informationprovide pre-treatment informationExplain treatment options and possibilities, informing the patients in order to help them make well-balanced decisions.provide anti-cancer medical treatmentprovide anti-cancer medical treatmentDetermine the cancer treatment appropriate for the patient, considering chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and targeted therapy such as immunotherapy.provide psychological support to patientsprovide psychological support to patientsProvide accurate psychological and emotional support to anxious, vulnerable and confused healthcare users related to the treatment undergone.conduct cancer screening testsconduct cancer screening testsUndertake screening test at an early stage, before cancer symptoms appear, taking physical exams, laboratory tests, imaging procedures and genetic tests.interpret medical imagesinterpret medical imagesAnalyse medical images in order to diagnose illnesses and injuries.apply radiation protection proceduresapply radiation protection proceduresInspect rules related to ionising radiation and ensure these abide by the Medical Exposure Directive (MED).perform image guidance in radiation therapyperform image guidance in radiation therapyPerform image guidance in accordance with the protocol to improve the precision and accuracy of the delivery of the radiation treatment.manage healthcare users' datamanage healthcare users' dataKeep accurate client records which also satisfy legal and professional standards and ethical obligations in order to facilitate client management, ensuring that all clients' data (including verbal, wr...perform transcranial magnetic stimulationperform transcranial magnetic stimulationPerform non-invasive electromagnetic stimulation of the brain using a rapidly changing magnetic field, in order to cause activity in specific or general parts of the brain and study the brain`s functi...deal with emergency care situationsdeal with emergency care situationsAssess the signs and be well-prepared for a situation that poses an immediate threat to a person's health, security, property or environment.delineate organs at riskdelineate organs at riskDelineate organs at risk of toxicity in patients according to international consensus guidelines.communicate in healthcarecommunicate in healthcareCommunicate effectively with patients, families and other caregivers, health care professionals, and community partners.perform pre-treatment imagingperform pre-treatment imagingPerform the optimal pre-treatment imaging for the individual cancer site.comply with quality standards related to healthcare practicecomply with quality standards related to healthcare practiceApply quality standards related to risk management, safety procedures, patients feedback, screening and medical devices in daily practice, as they are recognized by the national professional associati...comply with legislation related to health carecomply with legislation related to health careComply with the regional and national health legislation which regulates relations between suppliers, payers, vendors of the healthcare industry and patients, and the delivery of healthcare services.determine medical images' diagnostic suitabilitydetermine medical images' diagnostic suitabilityAppraise the medical images to make sure that they are clear. Determine if they are suitable for further use or if new images need to be taken. Analyse the images for their suitability in treatment pl...administer radiation treatmentadminister radiation treatmentDetermine appropriate radiation dosage in cooperation with medical physicists and doctors, determining which body area is to be treated, in order to treat tumors or forms of cancer and minimising dama...select immobilisation device for radiation therapyselect immobilisation device for radiation therapySelect and construct the most appropriate immobilisation device for the individual patient.perform radiation treatmentsperform radiation treatmentsApply radiation treatments to the affected area of the patient. Use a wide range of equipment and techniques.perform virtual simulationperform virtual simulationPerform all the steps of a virtual simulation, including the correct positioning and immobilisation of the patient, acquisition of the necessary images and recording reference points and other marks.post-process medical imagespost-process medical imagesPerform post-processing on medical images, or develop X-ray films, checking processed images to determine if further care is necessary.adhere to the ALARA principleadhere to the ALARA principleApply the ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) principle during image acquisition in radiation therapy.interact with healthcare usersinteract with healthcare usersCommunicate with clients and their carer’s, with the patient’s permission, to keep them informed about the clients’ and patients’ progress and safeguarding confidentiality.adhere to organisational code of ethicsadhere to organisational code of ethicsAdhere to organisational European and regional specific standards and code of ethics, understanding the motives of the organisation and the common agreements and apply this awareness.ensure compliance with radiation protection regulationsensure compliance with radiation protection regulationsMake sure the company and the employees implement the legal and operational measures established to guarantee protection against radiation.conduct radiotherapy computer planningconduct radiotherapy computer planningProduce a three-dimensional plan of the distribution of radiation across the anatomical area to be treated.advocate for healthcare users' needsadvocate for healthcare users' needsPromote patient and family needs in different settings such as inpatient, outpatient, at home, and in the community.prepare examination room for radiation treatmentprepare examination room for radiation treatmentAnticipate and prepare the examination room with equipment and supplies required for radiation treatment.prepare patients for imaging proceduresprepare patients for imaging proceduresInstruct patients prior to their exposure to imaging equipment, correctly positioning the patient and imaging equipment to obtain the best image of the area being examined.formulate a treatment planformulate a treatment planFormulate a treatment plan and evaluation (analysis) based on collected data following assessment using a clinical reasoning process.
Optional (10) — show
electroencephalographyelectroencephalographyThe situations where electroencephalography or EEG is needed, the techniques that may need to be specified, the preparation the patient needs, and the way to use the results in diagnosis and patient f...biomarkersbiomarkersThe types of markers or indications present in an image that help in making a diagnosis. The various markers that appear in images for specific diagnoses and the techniques used to find them.identify progression of diseaseidentify progression of diseaseRecognise changing signs, symptoms and progression of disease and make appropriate decisions related to the continuation or changing of the treatment.administer contrast mediaadminister contrast mediaUse and administer contrast agents to enhance the visibility of the body in medical imaging.perform venous cannulationperform venous cannulationPlace a cannula inside the patient's vein to provide venous access. It allows many practices such as sampling of blood, administration of fluids, medications, parenteral nutrition, and chemotherapy.teach medical scienceteach medical scienceInstruct students in the theory and practice of medical science, more specifically in human anatomy, medical treatment and therapy, medical diseases and conditions, physiology, and medical research.conduct health related researchconduct health related researchConduct research in health related topics and communicate findings orally, through public presentations or by writing reports and other publications.promote cancer preventive informationpromote cancer preventive informationPromote awareness of cancer, providing preventive information and health advice.use photodynamic therapy for canceruse photodynamic therapy for cancerUse Photodynamic Therapy (PDT), a cancer treatment method that combines a drug (or a photosensitising agent) with a specific sort of light.perform on-treatment reviewperform on-treatment reviewAssess patients regularly while they are undergoing radiotherapy, prescribing drugs to counteract side effects where necessary, or referring them to other health professionals if needed.
Related Occupations
Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.
diagnostic radiographer28 shared essential skillsnuclear medicine radiographer28 shared essential skillsradiographer27 shared essential skillsbiomedical scientist14 shared essential skillsorthoptist14 shared essential skillsspeech and language therapist14 shared essential skillsdietitian13 shared essential skillsoccupational therapist13 shared essential skills
Frequently asked questions
What does a radiation therapist do?
Radiation therapists are responsible for the accurate delivery of radiotherapy to cancer patients and, as part of the multidisciplinary team, for elements of treatment preparation and patient care. This encompasses the safe and accurate delivery of the radiation dose prescribed and the clinical care and support of the patient throughout the treatment preparation, treatment delivery and immediate post treatment phases.
What skills does a radiation therapist need?
A radiation therapist needs 51 essential skills, including hygiene in a health care setting, pharmaceutical products, health care legislation, medical terminology, health care occupation-specific ethics.
Will AI replace radiation therapist jobs?
The AI disruption score for radiation therapist is 22/100 (low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: medical terminology, manage healthcare users' data, pharmaceutical products. Most resilient: deal with emergency care situations, human anatomy, first aid.
AI Replacement Risk
22/ 100
Low Risk
Low riskHigh risk
Quick Facts
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