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Radiation Oncology
If you choose to undergo radiation therapy as part of your cancer treatment, a team of highly trained medical professionals will work together to make sure you receive the best possible care. A radiation oncologist, a doctor who specializes in using radiation to treat cancer, leads this team. The Comprehensive Cancer Center at Pardee is proud to have two board-certified radiation oncologists on staff – Mark McCollough, M.D. and Leta Lamb, M.D. Pardee’s radiation treatment team also includes a licensed registered nurse and board-certified radiation therapists, dosimetrist and medical physicist.
Your Radiation Oncology Treatment Team
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation oncologists are the doctors who will oversee your radiation therapy treatments. They work with other members of the radiation therapy team to develop your treatment plan and ensure that each treatment is given accurately. Your radiation oncologist also monitors your progress and adjusts the treatment as necessary to make sure the radiation is hitting its target while minimizing side effects. Before, during and after your treatments, your radiation oncologists work closely with other cancer doctors, such as medical oncologists and surgeons, to maximize the radiation’s effectiveness.
Radiation Oncology Nurse
A radiation oncology nurse works with radiation oncologists and radiation therapists to care for you and your family before, during and after the treatment. The nurse will explain the possible side effects of radiation and offer ways to manage them. The nurse will also assess how you are doing throughout the treatment and help you cope with the changes you may experience. Your nurse will provide support and counseling to you and your family.
Radiation Therapist
The radiation therapist administers radiation treatments to the patient. He or she prepares the patient for each treatment, applies the radiation, records and verifies each treatment and monitors the patient during treatment. Radiation therapists complete two- or four-year professional educational programs focusing on physics, radiation safety, anatomy and patient care. They are certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.
Dosimetrist
A board-certified medical dosimetrist is a radiation therapist with further training and study. They carefully calculate the dose of radiation to make sure the tumor receives enough radiation. Using computers, they develop a number of treatment plans that can best destroy the tumor while sparing normal tissue. They perform a series of calculations to ensure the treatment dose is correct. The dosimetrist works closely with the radiation oncologist and medical physicist to choose the best treatment plan.
Medical Physicist
A board-certified medical physicist works directly with the radiation oncologist during treatment planning and delivery. They oversee the work of the dosimetrist and help ensure the complex treatment plans are properly tailored for each patient. The medical physicist is responsible for developing and directing quality control programs for equipment and procedures. They make sure the equipment works properly by taking precise measurements of the radiation beam and performing additional safety measures on a regular basis.
Other Healthcare Professionals
During your treatment, you may work with a number of other healthcare professionals to ensure all of your physical and psychological needs are met during your treatment. Social workers are available to provide support services and counseling to you and your family. Nutritionists, or dietitians, work with patients to help them maintain proper nutrition during their treatments. Physical therapists can show you exercises to help manage side effects, alleviate pain and keep you healthy.
- Contact Pardee's Radiation Oncology Department at (828) 696-1330