Monday, July 16, 2012
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Day 4: June 28
Today was a little bit more serious than the other days. I sat with the therapists like normal, but I also sat in during a simulation. A simulation is basically preparations and set up for the future radiation treatments. A newly diagnosed patient will come in and get x-rays and CT scans taken to determine the location of the tumor and then the therapists will set up marks on the body using a laser to outline the parameters for treatment. Cushions and face masks are also made during this process to ensure that the patient lies in the exact same spot for every treatment they will have. The dosimetrists then take the scans, marks, and x-rays to put together a treatment plan that shrinks and kills the tumor while putting the least amount of radiation to the surrounding tissue.
The patient that came in for a simulation was very nervous and upset at the recent diagnosis. During the CT scan, another location seemed to have trouble as well which was later diagnosed as another additional primary source for cancer. This patient had two doses of bad news in one day and it did not go well for them. It was really sad to watch all this, but it was also good because the patient had an early detection which means better treatment and possible outcome.
The rest of the day was spent with the therapists watching more patient treatments. A few of the patients "graduated" today. Its a sweet gesture that the center does when a person finishes their treatments or "graduates"; they give them a card signed by all the therapists and a rose. Most of the therapists get attached because the patients come so often for such long time periods.
The patient that came in for a simulation was very nervous and upset at the recent diagnosis. During the CT scan, another location seemed to have trouble as well which was later diagnosed as another additional primary source for cancer. This patient had two doses of bad news in one day and it did not go well for them. It was really sad to watch all this, but it was also good because the patient had an early detection which means better treatment and possible outcome.
The rest of the day was spent with the therapists watching more patient treatments. A few of the patients "graduated" today. Its a sweet gesture that the center does when a person finishes their treatments or "graduates"; they give them a card signed by all the therapists and a rose. Most of the therapists get attached because the patients come so often for such long time periods.
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Day 3: June 27
Such a long day! I sat with the therapists once again. Today was exciting because I got to actually go in the treatment rooms with the patients!!! They had to give consent of course, but most of them said yes to letting me come in the room and watch how the treatment process starts. Most of the work goes on in the treatment room off camera. The patient gets placed on the table and the necessary accessories get put into the gantry. The laser gets lined up with the intended tattoos on the patient and then the therapists leave the room to start the treatment. Once the therapists are back at the main table, they start the radiation process.
Throughout the day, one of the main oncologists for the center would stop by and show me various patient x-rays and explain terms and concepts to me. It was very interesting to see how the doctors diagnose their patients and decide on the best treatment based on location, size, and type of cancer the patient has. The oncologist continued to show me x-rays and CT scan images whenever she had something new to show me.
The rest of the day was spent at the main desk with the therapists. I watched more patient treatments and sat in on a few more treatment preparations. Sitting with them for the entire day is really starting to give me a glimpse of the typical therapist work day.
Throughout the day, one of the main oncologists for the center would stop by and show me various patient x-rays and explain terms and concepts to me. It was very interesting to see how the doctors diagnose their patients and decide on the best treatment based on location, size, and type of cancer the patient has. The oncologist continued to show me x-rays and CT scan images whenever she had something new to show me.
The rest of the day was spent at the main desk with the therapists. I watched more patient treatments and sat in on a few more treatment preparations. Sitting with them for the entire day is really starting to give me a glimpse of the typical therapist work day.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Day 2: June 26
Yesterday was alot of information to take in for 6 hours. Today I decided to sit with the radiation therapists and see what their day-to-day job entailed. It is better to become a therapist and get working experience before moving up to a dosimetrist, so I figured this was a good place to start.
There are currently four female radiation therapists at the hospital. They do most of the hands-on interaction with the patients. The therapists are responsible for setting up the treatment room for each patient and programming the maching to give the patient the correct dose of radiation. Each dose is based on the treatment plan put together by the dosimetrist, physicist, and oncologist. Each plan is tailored to each patient and the type and location of the cancer that they have. Most of the patients at the hospital are prostate and breast cancer patients.
There are currently four female radiation therapists at the hospital. They do most of the hands-on interaction with the patients. The therapists are responsible for setting up the treatment room for each patient and programming the maching to give the patient the correct dose of radiation. Each dose is based on the treatment plan put together by the dosimetrist, physicist, and oncologist. Each plan is tailored to each patient and the type and location of the cancer that they have. Most of the patients at the hospital are prostate and breast cancer patients.
Day 1: June 25
Day One was quite interesting. I met all of the staff of the center. There were dosimetrists, radiation therapists, nurses, oncologists, clerical people, and a medical physicist. All the members of the team work together to carry patients from beginning diagnosis to ending treatments. There are several machines that can deliver radiation beams to provide the accurate amount of dosage to each individual patient. Over the next few weeks, I plan to spend time with each member of the oncology team and see what the everyday job is like. Week One will be spent with the radiation therapists.
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