Staff in the radiotherapy department

Clinical oncologist

Although you will continue to be in the care of your GP during and after your radiotherapy, while you are having the treatment itself you will be under the care of a clinical oncologist. A clinical oncologist is a doctor trained in the use of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The clinical oncologist will be responsible for prescribing and supervising your course of treatment.

You may see your oncologist before, during, and after your course of radiotherapy treatment, so that the effect of the treatment can be monitored. If you have any problems before or after your treatment, the nurses or radiographers can arrange an extra appointment for you.

If you are having chemotherapy as well as radiotherapy, this treatment may be supervised by your clinical oncologist or may be organised by a different doctor, called a medical oncologist. Medical oncologists specialise in chemotherapy treatment.

Medical oncologists and clinical oncologists work as part of a team. The team includes all the other health care staff who look after people having treatment for cancer. This multidisciplinary team will have regular meetings to co-ordinate and plan the care and treatment of their patients.

Radiographers

Radiographers are specially trained in using x-ray equipment. There are two main types of radiographer: therapy radiographers and diagnostic radiographers.

• Therapy radiographers (also sometimes called radiotherapists) are the people who operate the machines that give you your radiotherapy treatment. They are highly trained in giving radiotherapy and in patient care.

• Diagnostic radiographers use x-rays (including CT scans, mammograms and MRI scans) to diagnose illness – you may have x-rays or scans from time to time during and after your treatment to check the effect of your radiotherapy treatment.

Therapy radiographers work closely with your specialist and physicist to plan your treatment. Where possible, you will see the same radiographers throughout your course of treatment so you get to know each other quite well. They can give you help and advice about any aspect of your treatment, and you can discuss any of your concerns or anxieties with them. You can ask to be treated by a radiographer of the same sex as yourself, if you prefer.

Some radiographers, known as information radiographers, specialise in giving information to patients and their relatives.

Physicist

Working with the clinical oncologist is a physicist – a radiation expert – who will help to plan your treatment, assisting your specialist in decisions about the best way of giving the prescribed amount of radiation. The physicist is also responsible for maintaining the accuracy of the equipment used. Although you may meet the physicist at your initial planning appointment, they usually work behind the scenes.

Mould room technician

If you need to have a mould made of part of your body to keep it still during treatment, this will usually be done by technical staff in the mould room.

Nursing staff

Like hospital wards, the radiotherapy clinic has nursing staff – usually a sister or charge nurse and a team of nurses. They ensure that the clinic is running smoothly and look after any general needs you have, such as dressings and medicines. The nurses in the radiotherapy department can also give information and advice about the treatment and they give practical support.

Other members of the cancer support team

Social worker

Social workers can give advice about any non-medical problems that you may have. This includes practical and financial help: for example, some patients can claim travelling expenses and others may be eligible for a grant from a charity. Social workers can also give or organise counselling and emotional support for you and your family. If necessary they will refer you to local support services that can help you at home. You can ask to see a social worker if you think that this would be helpful.

Symptom control team (palliative care team)

Many hospitals have a symptom control team to give additional help and support for people whose symptoms or treatment are causing problems. There may be other staff, such as dietitians or physiotherapists, who can help with any specific questions you may have.

Counsellors

Counsellors are available in some hospitals. If you feel that speaking to a counsellor would be helpful, ask the staff looking after you to arrange an appointment. You can also contact the Cancer Counselling Trust.

Secretaries and clerical staff

The secretaries and clerical staff in the radiotherapy department help to keep the appointment system running smoothly.

Where do you have your radiotherapy treatment?

Radiotherapy equipment is very complex and needs a lot of space, as well as support from specially trained staff, so radiotherapy departments tend to be in the larger regional and teaching hospitals. Often you will have your initial cancer treatment (such as surgery) at your local hospital and will then be referred to your nearest specialist cancer treatment hospital for your radiotherapy treatment.

Radiotherapy departments have varying types of equipment and are organised according to local needs, so they are run in different ways. While most of the information in this section is fairly general, and will apply to most departments, you may find that there are some differences at the hospital where you are treated.

You can usually have external radiotherapy as an out-patient, but if you are unwell, or having chemotherapy at the same time, you may need to stay in hospital and will be taken to the radiotherapy department each day from the ward.

If you are having internal radiotherapy, you may have to stay in hospital for a few days.