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