A dosimetrist is a medical professional who works with an oncologist to plan and administer radiation treatment to cancer patients. They must have knowledge of brachytherapy and teletherapy practices, assess the patient’s needs, plan the correct dosage, and ensure that healthy tissues are not harmed. They also work with medical physicists to implement the treatment safely and correctly.
An oncologist who wants to treat a cancer patient using radiation will need to work with a dosimetrist. A dosimetrist is a medical professional who specializes in radiation dosage and how to most effectively administer it to a patient. It evaluates the doctor’s radiation prescription and calculates the best plan to deliver it to the tumor while preventing damage to the patient’s surrounding tissues and organs.
A dosimetrist must have knowledge of brachytherapy and teletherapy practices. Brachytherapy is a treatment method that involves delivering a source of radiation very close to a tumor, sometimes inside the patient’s body. This practice helps to localize the application of radiation to the tumor, limiting possible damage caused by the irradiation of other healthy tissues. Teletherapy is the practice of targeting a tumor using a beam from outside the body. Both techniques can be used depending on which is more appropriate for the situation.
When the dosimetrist receives a prescription from the oncologist for radiation, he or she must assess the patient’s needs in order to plan a course of treatment. Calculations done manually or using a computer must be performed to plan the correct dosage. Special consideration must be taken for any healthy tissues or organs close to the treatment site. Known as dose-limiting structures, the dosimetrist must know them and devise a plan that effectively applies the radiation without harming it. Often, 3D imaging or scans such as MRI or PET scans are used to help clearly define the location of the tumor and its position in relation to these structures.
After creating a plan, the dosimetrist can set up a simulation of the treatment to confirm that it will work as expected. During the test, he or she can determine if it is necessary to immobilize parts of the patient’s body during treatment to keep healthy tissues safe and ensure that the radiation is delivered correctly. In such cases, molds or molds may need to be created for this purpose.
Another area where a dosimetrist must receive significant training is in the use of radiation therapy equipment. He or she is responsible for calibrating the machines used in the treatment and ensuring that they are up to standard. The dosimetrist usually works with another medical professional known as a medical physicist to implement the treatment using the appropriate equipment, ensuring that it is done safely and correctly.
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