The Wonderful The Wonderful World of Radiation World of Radiation

Therapy!Therapy!

Presented by:Presented by:

Lindsey Martin & Shannon Lindsey Martin & Shannon CarmodyCarmody

What is Radiation What is Radiation Therapy?Therapy?

• It is a treatment modality used to treat It is a treatment modality used to treat different types of cancer.different types of cancer.

• Radiation therapy is the medical use of Radiation therapy is the medical use of ionizing radiation (high intensity x-rays) ionizing radiation (high intensity x-rays) as part of cancer treatment to control as part of cancer treatment to control malignant aka “cancer” cells. malignant aka “cancer” cells.

• Not to be confused with radiology, which Not to be confused with radiology, which is the use of radiation in medical imaging is the use of radiation in medical imaging and diagnosis (people who take x-rays).and diagnosis (people who take x-rays).

• Radiation therapy works by damaging the Radiation therapy works by damaging the DNA of cells.DNA of cells.

Did you know that there are Did you know that there are different types of tumors?different types of tumors?

• Malignant tumorsMalignant tumors

-Have the ability to spread somewhere else -Have the ability to spread somewhere else in the body besides the original sitein the body besides the original site

-Often invade and destroy normal -Often invade and destroy normal surrounding tissuesurrounding tissue

• Benign TumorsBenign Tumors

- Do not spread or invade surrounding tissue- Do not spread or invade surrounding tissue

- Often encapsulated and slow growing- Often encapsulated and slow growing

- Noted by the suffix – oma which is - Noted by the suffix – oma which is connected to the cell of originconnected to the cell of origin

Examples of Tumors Examples of Tumors • Sarcomas- tumors arising from mesenchymal cells Sarcomas- tumors arising from mesenchymal cells

which include connective tissue such as cartilage and which include connective tissue such as cartilage and bonebone

- ex: Chondrosarcoma is sarcoma of the cartilage.- ex: Chondrosarcoma is sarcoma of the cartilage.• Carcinomas are tumor that originate from the Carcinomas are tumor that originate from the

epithelium. This includes all the tissues that cover a epithelium. This includes all the tissues that cover a surface or line a cavity. surface or line a cavity.

-Since the lung is made of squamous cell epithelium -Since the lung is made of squamous cell epithelium then a tumor in the lung would be called squamous cell then a tumor in the lung would be called squamous cell carcinoma of the lung.carcinoma of the lung.

• Epithelial cells that are glandular are called Epithelial cells that are glandular are called adenocarcinoma. adenocarcinoma.

-A tumor originating in the lining of the stomach -A tumor originating in the lining of the stomach would be called adenocarcinoma of the stomach.would be called adenocarcinoma of the stomach.

What do you think What do you think causes cancer?causes cancer?

• Although the cause Although the cause of cancer is of cancer is unknown, many unknown, many carcinogenic carcinogenic agents have been agents have been identified such as identified such as smoking cigarettes smoking cigarettes and drinking and drinking alcohol so DON’T alcohol so DON’T DRINK OR SMOKE.DRINK OR SMOKE.

How do we detect How do we detect cancer?cancer?

• Screening tests are Screening tests are helpful in detecting helpful in detecting cancer early. Some cancer early. Some examples are Pap examples are Pap smears for cervical smears for cervical cancer, digital exam cancer, digital exam for prostate cancer, for prostate cancer, fecal occult blood fecal occult blood testing for colorectal testing for colorectal cancer and cancer and mammograms for mammograms for breast cancer. breast cancer.

More Information about More Information about Radiation TherapyRadiation Therapy

• Radiation therapy is a local treatment that Radiation therapy is a local treatment that can be used alone or with other treatment can be used alone or with other treatment modalities such as surgery or chemotherapy. modalities such as surgery or chemotherapy.

• Benefits of radiation therapy include Benefits of radiation therapy include preservation of function and better cosmetic preservation of function and better cosmetic results. results.

- An example would be an early stage - An example would be an early stage laryngeal tumor that can be taken off by laryngeal tumor that can be taken off by surgery but would require the vocal cords to surgery but would require the vocal cords to be taken out too. Radiation therapy treats be taken out too. Radiation therapy treats the tumor while preserving the patient’s the tumor while preserving the patient’s voice. voice.

Pictures of larynx cancerPictures of larynx cancer

Radiation also plays a role Radiation also plays a role in palliation (relieves in palliation (relieves

symptoms).symptoms).• For example bone metastasis. If this condition For example bone metastasis. If this condition

is left untreated, the patient could experience is left untreated, the patient could experience a great deal of pain and is at risk for bone a great deal of pain and is at risk for bone fractures. fractures.

-With radiation therapy, it would relieve -With radiation therapy, it would relieve the pain and prevent bone fractures.the pain and prevent bone fractures.

• Lastly if a tumor is pressing on a nerve or Lastly if a tumor is pressing on a nerve or blocking an air way, radiation therapy can blocking an air way, radiation therapy can shrink the tumor to relieve the patient of any shrink the tumor to relieve the patient of any discomfort or problems they may have had discomfort or problems they may have had from the tumor.from the tumor.

How do we deliver the How do we deliver the “cancer” treatments?“cancer” treatments?

• Radiation therapist’s use a linear accelerator, which is Radiation therapist’s use a linear accelerator, which is a complex machine that uses high-frequency a complex machine that uses high-frequency electromagnetic waves to accelerate charged particles electromagnetic waves to accelerate charged particles such as electrons to high energies via a linear tube. such as electrons to high energies via a linear tube.

• It is capable of generating x-ray beams of at least 1 It is capable of generating x-ray beams of at least 1 mega-volt (1,000,000 volts) and even up to 20 mega-mega-volt (1,000,000 volts) and even up to 20 mega-volts!volts!

• The linear accelerator is unique because it has a gantry The linear accelerator is unique because it has a gantry head that can rotate around the patient at 360 head that can rotate around the patient at 360 degrees, making treatments easier and less time degrees, making treatments easier and less time consuming.consuming.

• It also has a treatment couch that can rotate 270 It also has a treatment couch that can rotate 270 degrees and move up/down, left/right, and even in/out degrees and move up/down, left/right, and even in/out in order to position the patient where the doctor wants.in order to position the patient where the doctor wants.

There are several different There are several different ways in order to administer ways in order to administer

Radiation Therapy.Radiation Therapy. • External beam which is the most used External beam which is the most used

for majority of treatments. The machine for majority of treatments. The machine used to produce the external beam used to produce the external beam radiation is called a linear accelerator. radiation is called a linear accelerator.

• Brachytherapy uses radioactive Brachytherapy uses radioactive materials such as Cesium(Cs 137), materials such as Cesium(Cs 137), Iridium (Ir-192) or gold (Au-198). The Iridium (Ir-192) or gold (Au-198). The use of brachytherapy allows for the use of brachytherapy allows for the radioactive material to be placed next radioactive material to be placed next to or directly into the tumor. to or directly into the tumor.

Different types of Different types of brachytherapy techniques brachytherapy techniques

• Interstitial: radioactive sources are Interstitial: radioactive sources are place directly into the tumor (ex-place directly into the tumor (ex-prostate seed implants)prostate seed implants)

• Intracavitary: placing the source in a Intracavitary: placing the source in a body cavity such as cases for treatment body cavity such as cases for treatment of cervical or endometrial cancersof cervical or endometrial cancers

• Interluminal: radioactive material is Interluminal: radioactive material is placed within a body tube such as the placed within a body tube such as the esophagus or bronchial tree.esophagus or bronchial tree.

ChemotherapyChemotherapy

• Chemotherapy agents can be used in Chemotherapy agents can be used in helping control tumors that have helping control tumors that have spread throughout the body. spread throughout the body. Radiation therapists will need to Radiation therapists will need to know if a patient getting know if a patient getting chemotherapy and if they are chemotherapy and if they are suppose to get chemotherapy before suppose to get chemotherapy before or after their radiation therapy or after their radiation therapy treatment.treatment.

So, how does one get into So, how does one get into the Radiation Therapy the Radiation Therapy

program?program?• First you need to apply to Armstrong by going First you need to apply to Armstrong by going

to their website @ to their website @ www.aasu.eduwww.aasu.edu• Once you have taken the required core Once you have taken the required core

courses needed, you must submit a formal courses needed, you must submit a formal application to the radiologic sciences application to the radiologic sciences department by November 1st (deadline).department by November 1st (deadline).

• Word of advice- start taking the related core Word of advice- start taking the related core classes needed for radiation therapy, so you classes needed for radiation therapy, so you don’t waste time taking classes you don’t don’t waste time taking classes you don’t need. Example of classes needed will be need. Example of classes needed will be handed out.handed out.

Radiation Therapy Radiation Therapy RequirementsRequirements

• Applications will be accepted on a “competitive” basis Applications will be accepted on a “competitive” basis and written notification of acceptance will begin March and written notification of acceptance will begin March 1st. 1st.

• GPA, number of science courses completed, overall GPA, number of science courses completed, overall completed course work, and an interview (if needed) .completed course work, and an interview (if needed) .

-A GPA of 2.5 or higher is required for all college -A GPA of 2.5 or higher is required for all college work. (Applicants with less than 2.5 are encouraged to work. (Applicants with less than 2.5 are encouraged to apply and may be considered under special apply and may be considered under special circumstances.) circumstances.)

- Only 15 students get accepted each year so - Only 15 students get accepted each year so keep those grades up while you are in college, and it keep those grades up while you are in college, and it will pay off in the long run.will pay off in the long run.

• More information about requirements needed can be More information about requirements needed can be found at found at www.radsci.armstrong.eduwww.radsci.armstrong.edu..

Once you get into the program you will Once you get into the program you will start on-the-job training to become a start on-the-job training to become a

radiation therapistradiation therapist• On the job training will include:On the job training will include: -Going to different clinical sites where you will learn how to -Going to different clinical sites where you will learn how to

become a radiation therapist.become a radiation therapist. - This internship will help you learn all the skills - This internship will help you learn all the skills

required to:required to: - deliver radiation therapy to patients- deliver radiation therapy to patients - perform CT scans to localize the treatment - perform CT scans to localize the treatment

area of concernarea of concern - take and develop x-rays for treatment - take and develop x-rays for treatment

verificationverification - “set-up” patients for their treatments by using - “set-up” patients for their treatments by using

lasers lasers - develop critical thinking skills by multi- - develop critical thinking skills by multi-taskingtasking

- learn how to interact with patients by seeing them - learn how to interact with patients by seeing them frequently frequently and by helping them get rid of and by helping them get rid of their diseasetheir disease

• By becoming a Radiation Therapist, you will always learn By becoming a Radiation Therapist, you will always learn something new and interesting!something new and interesting!

-Clinical sites for the -Clinical sites for the Radiation Therapy program Radiation Therapy program

include:include:• Anderson Cancer Institute Radiation Anderson Cancer Institute Radiation

Oncology Center, Savannah, GAOncology Center, Savannah, GA• Savannah Radiation Oncology Center, Savannah Radiation Oncology Center,

Savannah, GASavannah, GA• Southeast Georgia Health System Oncology Southeast Georgia Health System Oncology

Center, Brunswick, GACenter, Brunswick, GA• Roper Radiation Oncology Center, Roper Radiation Oncology Center,

Charleston, SCCharleston, SC• Medical University of South Carolina Medical University of South Carolina

Oncology Center, Charleston, SCOncology Center, Charleston, SC

Important information on why you Important information on why you should choose radiation therapy as should choose radiation therapy as

a professiona profession • The salary range is from around The salary range is from around

$65,000-$85,000 per year (varies $65,000-$85,000 per year (varies depending on location, education, and depending on location, education, and skills).skills).

• Almost all working schedules are from Almost all working schedules are from around 8am-5pm, with the exception of around 8am-5pm, with the exception of coming in to work when on call (usually coming in to work when on call (usually for emergences).for emergences).

• You will get to have a rewarding and You will get to have a rewarding and challenging career that helps people challenging career that helps people when they are in a time of need.when they are in a time of need.

Future Career Future Career Opportunities Opportunities

• Dosimetrist- performs calculations to come up Dosimetrist- performs calculations to come up with treatment parameters such as field size, with treatment parameters such as field size, tumor volume, and critical structures.tumor volume, and critical structures.

• Physicist- deals with “regulating” the Physicist- deals with “regulating” the treatment machine and any problems that treatment machine and any problems that may occur. may occur.

-For more information visit www.aapm.org.-For more information visit www.aapm.org.• Physicians assistant (PA)- diagnose and treat Physicians assistant (PA)- diagnose and treat

illnesses, perform physical exams in order to illnesses, perform physical exams in order to interpret tests, counsel on preventive health interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery, and can write care, assist in surgery, and can write prescriptions under the doctors license. prescriptions under the doctors license.

-For more information go to -For more information go to www.aapa.orgwww.aapa.org..

So come and join us in the So come and join us in the wonderful world of wonderful world of

Radiation Therapy!!!!Radiation Therapy!!!!

ReferencesReferences

• http://www.indeed.cohttp://www.indeed.com/salary?q1=Radiatim/salary?q1=Radiation+Therapist&l1on+Therapist&l1

• http://http://www.healthcaresalarwww.healthcaresalaryonline.com/yonline.com/radiation-therapist-radiation-therapist-job-description.htmljob-description.html

• Washington & Washington & Leaver (2004) Leaver (2004) Principles and Principles and Practice of Radiation Practice of Radiation TherapyTherapy