| Cancer treatment is mainly administered by two | | | | oncologist works closely with all involved in the |
| methods, chemotherapy and radiation. Unlike | | | | radiation oncology team such as nurses and radiation |
| chemotherapy that uses a chemical to circulate the | | | | therapists. |
| body and kill cancer cells, radiation uses concentrated | | | | A good radiation oncologist will have extensive |
| beams on specific areas of the body to destroy | | | | training and certification like all professional MDs. They |
| these types of cells. | | | | will have to have four years of college, four years of |
| A radiation oncologist is a doctor specializing in | | | | medical school, a year of general medical training with |
| radiation therapy who prescribes the application of | | | | another four years of residency training in radiation |
| radiation to combat cancer cell growth. | | | | oncology. |
| Radiation therapy, which is also referred to as | | | | In addition to that, the doctor would also need to |
| radiotherapy, x-ray therapy or irradiation, uses | | | | pass the exam to become certified by the American |
| energy called ionizing radiation to destroy cancer cells | | | | Board of Radiology. As a safeguard, all patients |
| with the intention of shrinking tumors. The idea is to | | | | should make sure to ask that their doctor is board |
| damage the cancer cells enough so that they are | | | | certified. |
| unable to pass on their DNA material on to grow | | | | The Field of Radiation Oncology |
| tumor masses. | | | | Radiation oncology is the field of medical study that |
| This will inevitably harm surrounding healthy cells, but | | | | focuses on how radiation therapy is best used and |
| with the guidance of a good radiation oncologist, this | | | | understood to combat and treat cancer. This is a |
| is minimized and the healthy cells recover while | | | | niche field in medicine that has grown in popularity |
| cancer cells deplete. It is often used in conjunction | | | | among medical students seeking a residency. It's a |
| with chemotherapy, surgery and hormone therapy. | | | | competitive field that yields top-notch radiation |
| Duties of a Radiation Oncologist | | | | oncologists. |
| Radiation oncologists are doctors who oversee | | | | Radiation oncology had its beginning in the early 20th |
| patients undergoing radiation treatment for their | | | | century where x-rays were being used to treat |
| cancer. They create the treatment plan for their | | | | cancer and other conditions. Radium therapy came a |
| patient and make sure that the proper tools and | | | | few decades afterward, and in the late 60s and early |
| proper doses of therapy are given. | | | | 70s this field became a department of medical study |
| These doctors also monitor and ease any side | | | | all to itself. |
| effects of the radiation treatment. The radiation | | | | |