Radiation Therapy: What to Expect
Who is on the radiation health care team?
Peer Review Status: Internally Reviewed by Cancer Center Staff
Creation Date: October 2002
Last Review Date: November 2006
- Radiation Oncologist— the specially trained physician who will prescribe the type and amount of treatment that is correct for you. The radiation oncologist will work closely with the other doctors and health care professionals that make up your health care team.
- Radiation physicist— is the person who makes sure that the equipment is working properly and that the machine delivers the right amount of radiation. The physicist will work closely with the radiation oncologist to plan your treatment.
- Dosimetrist— will work under the direction of the radiation oncologist and the physicist. They help to carry out your treatment plan by calculating the amount of radiation to be delivered to the cancer and the normal tissues that are close by.
- Radiation Therapy Technologist (RTT)— is the highly trained person who reviews and delivers the prescribed dose of radiation under the direction of the radiation oncologist.
- Radiation nurse— will help you to learn about your cancer and the treatment. They can tell you how to manage side effects also. The nurse can help you to set up visits with other members of the health care team.
Some radiation treatment centers may include a physician assistant, dietitian, physical therapist and/or social worker on the team of workers available to help you during your radiation.
To learn more about radiation therapy, contact the Cancer Information Service at: cancer-information@uiowa.edu or 1-800-237-1225.
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