Radiation Oncology: A Crucial Role in Cancer Treatment

• Radiotherapy is a fundamental cancer treatment that uses ionising radiation to kill or damage cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissues.

• It is a vital component of both curative and palliative care in contemporary oncology.

• Radiation oncologists create and manage the treatment for those who undergo radiation therapy.

• They ensure patient comfort, patient awareness, and participation in diagnosing, staging, follow-up care, evaluating treatment efficacy, and monitoring for cancer recurrence.

• They are trained in giving chemotherapy and providing palliative care, including pain management.

• Education in radiation oncology typically involves a medical degree (MBBS or equivalent) followed by specialization in radiotherapy.

• With experience, they may take on leadership roles, such as supervising junior radio oncologists or managing radiotherapy departments.

• Knowledge of modern radiotherapy techniques like intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), image guided radiotherapy (IGRT), stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), and image guided brachytherapy (IGBT) is important.

• The demand for radiation oncologists is increasing due to the increasing incidence of cancer and the gap between demand and supply in the country.

• A well-trained radiation oncologist is better equipped to handle the complexities of modern techniques like stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), and image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT).