Radiation Therapy Radiation therapy involves the use of differing forms of ionizing radiation for the treatment of benign and malignant tumors. Radiation therapists administer the prescribed dose of ionizing radiation to specific sites of the patient s body as directed by the physician. They operate varied types of equipment, including high energy linear accelerators, and work with radioactive materials. In addition, radiation therapists observe the clinical progress of the patient undergoing radiation therapy, observe the first signs of any complication, and determine when treatment should be withheld until a physician may be consulted. Radiography Radiologic technology is a science involving the medical use of X rays in the diagnosis of disease.
Radiographers make up the largest group of imaging professionals.
Their principal duties consist of performing X-ray examinations of patients. They also assist in fluoroscopic examinations and in special radiographic procedures. Tasks performed by radiographers vary. Radiographers must be able to handle seriously ill and injured patients to obtain the maximum amount of information without injury to the patient and with the least amount of pain and discomfort from the examination. They may assist the radiologist, a specially trained physician, in some complex procedures, often involving the injection of opaque media through needles or catheters.