Radiation therapy

dr.barbie

The highs, the lows?? It sounds really interesting, and a rewarding if challenging career. But, I dont know any radiation therapists to pick their brains so if anyone is doing it here, or has some interesting second hand knowledge Id appreciate it. Cheers.

DrIndy

You would be in demand, there are plans for huge expansion on the facilities currently on offer in ireland and career is guarranteed.

St. James's is getting 13 new bunkers as are beaumont.

snorlax

im in 3rd year in Occupational Therapy, so i do know a little bit about some of the subjects you guys do.

As far as i know you spend three years doing anatomy and working on the cadavras, you also do some physics/ diagnostic imaging that kind of stuff. The course make up is mainly female. Job prospects for pretty much all the therapies are really good at the moment.

dr.barbie

Thanks for taking the time to reply, I imagine it becomes quite headwrecking at this time of year with leaving certs quizzing about every course on the prospectus!

Is the physics component of radiation therapy incredibly difficult?

snorlax

i copied and pasted this off the admissions site

The Junior Freshman year
In the Junior Freshman (first) year you will spend between 20 and 30 hours per week in class or clinical placement. The subjects you will cover are:

* Biology
* Physics
* Chemistry
* Psychology
* Professional studies

You will spend 2 months in a clinical setting

The Senior Freshman year
In the Senior Freshman (second) year courses include:

* Biochemistry
* Physiology
* Anatomy
* Medical and Radiation Physics
* Communication and Counselling skills

The Sophister years
In the Sophister (third and fourth) years, you will study more specialist subjects that are specifically related to cancer and patient care, and complete a project in this area.

Subject areas include:

* Cancer and its overall management
* The professional skills of radiotherapy
* Counselling and communication
* Health care management

A significant clinical component is also part and parcel of the final two years. The clinical sites are the radiotherapy departments attached to St. Luke's Hospital, Dublin, the Mater Private Hospital, Dublin, St. Vincent's Private Hospital, Dublin, and the Cork University Hospital. Clinical placement is 4 months in Junior Sophister (third) year and 5 months in Senior Sophister (fourth) year.

Assessment structure
Written end-of-year examinations take place in most subjects but the course is moving towards a higher percentage of project work and continuous assessment. A clinical portfolio and thesis are the main assessment processes in your final year.

Throughout the course you will be examined in both theoretical and clinical subjects, and must satisfactorily complete your clinical component.

There are information days held throughout the year for students interested in finding out more about therapeutic radiography.For details of the next information day please contact Jill Byrne: tel. 01 608 3250.

dr.barbie

Thanks very much!

hatethisfeeling

dr.barbie wrote: »

Thanks very much!

Anyone else have any information on this course?

poppy08

Yus, i'm think I can give one (very subjective) view of the course thus far:D

It wasn't my first choice and i didn't think the course through at all but...

highs:
good hours, my current timetable is less than most arts courses!
small (generally friendly) course so u'll easily make friends
small classes also mean its very hands on, you feel comfortable enough to ask a million questions if your like ( well theoretically anyway)
Its "interesting" enough- i'm sceptical about using interesting because for 1st yr u will learn boring, seemingly pointless basic science which will make u want to cry, but every monday you will have a class solely based on cancer patient care
and of course lots pf placement throughout the course.

lows:
Chemistry.
i'm not so hot on physics...there is ALOT of physics:eek:
constantly going from James' to trinity to James to trinity to James.....I now spend more time on buses than in lectures ( and yes u can walk but I have a monthly pass 4 the bus and I wanna use it;) )
Don't be surprised if the majority of your class is made up of those who wanted medicine instead....
1st/2nd year is pretty crap but I have talked to 3rd/4th year student who loved it.....

Feel free to pm me with questions though I may not be the best person to ask....