Radiography & Radiographers

There are two types of radiography: diagnostic and therapeutic.

Diagnostic radiographers produce and interpret high quality images of the body to diagnose injury and disease.

Therapeutic radiographers plan and deliver prescribed treatment using X-radiation and other radioactive sources.

The planning process is crucial in therapeutic radiography. It normally takes place in two stages. The first stage is called 'localisation' and normally happens during the patient's first visit, when s/he will be positioned precisely as s/he would be for treatment and X-rays are taken of the affected area. Depending on the type of cancer, a CT or MRI scan may also be performed to help identify the location and size of the tumour.

The second stage of the planning process, dosimetry planning, takes place in the absence of the patient. The radiographer works closely with a medical physicist and a doctor to determine the arrangement of the radiotherapy treatment beams (size, entry points and exit points) and the appropriate daily dose of radiation. This requires very careful calculation to take account of the exact parameters of the different treatment machines as well as all the measurements taken during the localisation stage. Before treatment begins, the radiographer carefully explains the process to the patient, discussing possible side effects and advising on care throughout treatment. On a daily basis, the therapeutic radiographer assesses each patient and monitors side effects of previous sessions before administering the next dose of radiation.

As well as planning and delivering a highly accurate dose of radiation, using equipment, which is technically very complex, it is essential that the radiographer at the same time attends to the psychological and emotional needs of each patient.

A therapeutic radiographer needs a wide range of skills (both technical and interpersonal) and must be able to communicate well with the other professionals in the team to ensure the most appropriate treatment is given to each patient.

The atmosphere in the radiotherapy department is usually friendly and hopeful (up to 60 per cent of those who come for radiotherapy can be cured). Some patients attend for periods of up to six weeks and get to know the staff quite well.

Most patients who come to a radiotherapy department attend as outpatients and normally look fit. We do, of course, get some patients who are very ill and there are also times when, sadly, the aim of treatment is not to cure but simply to help improve quality of life by, for example, relieving pain.

Both diagnostic and therapeutic radiographers should have good interpersonal skills to deal with patients of all types and ages, many of whom need considerable reassurance and counselling as well as an explanation of the radiographic procedure with which they are being examined or treated. A radiographer must be confident about working with complex high-technology equipment. She or he also needs to give great attention to detail but also be flexible enough to treat each patient as an individual case. The continuing development of radiographic techniques and treatments means that radiographers are constantly learning new skills and the work is very varied. Radiographers have to be able to think quickly and make decisions independently.

Career prospects

Diagnostic radiographers may choose to specialise in:


General radiography
Trauma/accident and emergency
CT scanning
Magnetic resonance imaging
Nuclear medicine - imaging aspects
Breast screening/mammography
Interventional radiography
Medical ultrasound
Teaching
Research
Management
Quality assurance.

Therapy radiographers may choose to specialise in:

Treatment planning
Treatment delivery Management
Research
Treatment review
Treatment information and patient support
Palliative care
Teaching
Nuclear medicine - therapy aspects
Quality assurance
Mould room

WORKING AS A RADIOGRAPHER

The diagnostic radiographer

Diagnostic radiographers work mainly within the radiology departments of hospitals but may also work in surgeries/clinics. Radiology departments within hospitals normally include a number of sections encompassing a wide range of different imaging investigations e.g. ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging and x-rays. Diagnostic radiographers are able to undertake most investigations but may later specialise in one particular area. Diagnostic radiographers provide a service for most departments within the hospital including, Accident and Emergency, outpatients, operating theatres and wards. Close liaison and collaboration with a wide range of other health care professionals is therefore vital. Diagnostic radiography is a fast-moving and continually changing profession, and long-term career prospects include management, research, clinical work and teaching.

Typically, radiographers can find themselves doing all sorts of different examinations - from X-rays to CT scanning.

The therapeutic radiographer

The therapeutic radiographer works closely with doctors, nurses, physicists and other members of the oncology team to treat patients with cancer.

Therapeutic radiographer treats patients using ionising radiation (mostly high-energy X-rays). The aim of the treatment is to deliver an accurate dose of radiation to the tumour/cancer whilst minimising the dose received by the surrounding tissues.

Therapeutic radiographers may be involved in the care of the cancer patient from the initial referral clinic stage, where pre-treatment information is given, through the planning process, treatment and eventually post-treatment review (follow-up) stages.

Therapeutic radiographer needs a wide range of skills (both technical and interpersonal) and must be able to communicate well with the other professionals in the team to ensure the most appropriate treatment is given to each patient.

Personal attributes

Both diagnostic and therapeutic radiographers should have good interpersonal skills to deal with patients of all types and ages, many of whom need considerable reassurance and counselling as well as an explanation of the radiographic procedure for which they are being examined or treated.

A radiographer must be confident about working with complex high-technology equipment. She or he also needs to give great attention to detail but also be flexible enough to treat each patient as an individual. The continuing development of radiographic techniques and treatments means that radiographers are constantly learning new skills and the work is very varied. Radiographers have to be able to think quickly and make decisions independently.