Being a Therapeutic Radiographer
7th February 2020
Who is a therapeutic radiographer or what does it involve?
They are qualified healthcare professional that treats people with cancer using radiation, it takes three years of both academical study and clinical training alongside a range of clinical competencies before one can become a qualified radiotherapist. Working as a radiotherapist is one of the most gratifying and fulfilling professions out there, knowing that you are helping people, making them laugh or smile in one of the most difficult journeys in their life.
Seeing patients with their other half or families from the time they are informed of their cancer diagnosis to their first appointment for pre-treatment chat/ scan up to the last day of treatment. Meeting these patients enables us to not only build a bond but a close rapport. This is inevitable from seeing someone Monday to Friday for four to seven and half weeks varying depending on the type of treatment they are having.
What would you consider as “high” in your role as a radiographer?
– Seeing patients after treatment coming in for their follow-up appointment; whereby they look refreshed, healthier and even happier.
– Even the moment patients receive the “all clear” from their consultant, that moment of joy as well as the warm embrace shared with their loved ones or families is simply indescribable.
– The moments shared with each patient is unique and different in their particular way, for example treating and interacting with a breast cancer patient that will be walking down the aisle in a few months, or a cervical cancer patient who is about to become a grandma for the first time or a prostate patient who will be starting a new career and many more.
– Hearing feedback within a multidisciplinary meeting, receiving compliments of how much the service rendered has helped and how our short interaction has helped them fight each and everyday is unquantifiable.
More about Mary (blog author)
Mary is a Senior Therapeutic Radiographer: “I’ve been qualified since 2016 and I’ve worked within the private and public (NHS) sector; from training to working as a qualified healthcare professional, there are so many things I have learnt and noticed hence I started this blog. For example, patients are always anxious before they start treatment because they do not know what to expect, what position they will be lying in and what happens during treatment and despite having the pre-treatment chat a lot of information won’t be taken in due to anxiety or nervousness. The purpose of this blog is to help educate people about what happens during cancer treatments, relieve anxiety or stress, help others be aware of how to support friends or families going through these treatments, to build and encourage an online platform for people who are going through cancer treatment to keep going and to confidently ask for help and support.”
Read more from Marys blog
https://thewordcancer.blogspot.com/2019/12/being-therapeutic-radiographer-highs.html?m=1
