Personal Narrative: Radiation Therapy

As a radiation therapist, I treat cancer and other diseases by administering radiation using a machine called a linear accelerator. It is my job to simulate, schedule, and treat patients as well as being empathic to my patient's concerns and easing any anxieties they may have. I image each patient daily using either two-dimensional or three-dimensional x-ray imaging prior to their treatment to localize the treatment volume before I administer their radiation treatment, this ensures accuracy of the treatment delivery and avoids healthy surrounding tissue. It is crucial that I accurately maintain daily treatment records and daily QA to make sure the machine is running properly. Although at times it is difficult for me to treat terminally