What’s a Chemotherapist’s Role?

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A chemotherapist administers chemotherapy to eradicate cancer cells and must have a sufficient amount of education and training. They work closely with patients to monitor progress, determine appropriate methods, and lessen side effects. The profession requires an undergraduate and graduate degree, as well as licenses or certifications. They work in hospitals or medical centers and must be trained in safe handling of machinery and hazardous materials.

A chemotherapist is a person who specializes in the study and administration of chemotherapy, which is a process of eradicating cancer cells by destroying a significant amount of rapidly dividing cells in the body. The process usually involves the use of radiation, which can be exceptionally dangerous for both the patients and the chemotherapist, so this practitioner must have a sufficient amount of education and training with regards to this medical process. This professional usually has a master’s or even a doctorate, in addition to specific licensing or certification in chemotherapy practices.

Part of the process of giving chemotherapy is monitoring the effects of the various steps in the process on cancer cells. This means that the chemotherapy therapist will work closely with a cancer patient to monitor the progress of the chemotherapy and make any necessary adjustments. Obviously, the chemotherapist will first need to determine which chemotherapy methods are most appropriate for a patient. Determinations will also be needed on how to make the process bearable or more comfortable for the patient. The side effects of chemotherapy can be painful or very inconvenient, so sometimes the chemotherapy specialist takes steps to lessen the severity of the side effects.

A chemotherapeutic must earn an undergraduate degree, usually followed by a graduate degree. Some students even earn a doctorate to qualify for a position. Much of the student’s course of study will focus on life sciences such as biology, although chemistry, physics, and even pre-medical studies can be included in the curriculum. The student will also need to develop their math skills as well as communication skills. After he graduates, the student is likely to need to obtain licenses or certifications specific to the field of chemotherapy.

Some hospitals have chemotherapy facilities, although many chemotherapy therapists end up working in a medical center specifically dedicated to treating cancer. The chemotherapist will administer drugs or other methods to deliver radiation to the cancer patient, which means that this professional needs to be trained in the safe handling of machinery and hazardous materials. The results of the chemotherapy sessions will be analyzed for effectiveness and, if necessary, changes can be made. Some chemotherapy professionals exclusively research to discover more effective ways to treat cancer using radiation or other methods.




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