Jennifer Ung, Radiation Therapist & Clinical Educator at Peter Mac
Are you looking for a role in the medical field that truly makes a difference? A career in Radiation Therapy could be calling! Working in this branch of healthcare means that you’ll be spending your days providing much-needed medical help and making a real difference in the lives of others. If you ask us, it doesn’t get much better than that!
To help us better understand what a career in healthcare is all about, we’ve enlisted the help of Jennifer, one of Peter Mac’s Radiation Therapists, to illuminate what it is that makes roles in radiation therapy such rewarding careers.
How Do You Start Your Day?
Jennifer: I start my day at eight in the morning at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. As Radiation Therapists we work in a team to deliver high quality and safe radiotherapy treatments to our patients. On a typical day 30 patients are booked per each Linear Accelerator (LINAC). The LINACs are the treatment machine used to deliver high energy x-rays which targets and destroys cancer cells. The LINAC can be controlled from the console area where I sit after setting up the patient into their unique treatment position. Each patient is booked for a 15-25 minute treatment session. Working in a team allows us to undertake quality assurance ensuring effective and efficient delivery of radiotherapy..
What Kind of Help Do You Provide?
Jennifer: We treat a range of cancers but the most common types of cancer here are breast and prostate cancer. These patients are prescribed a course of treatment that can span from one to five weeks. I’m able to build a strong rapport with my patients, checking in on their health and wellbeing and also chatting about topics like gardening, upcoming holidays or exchanging recipes for dinner. I always get so much joy and gratitude providing care to my patients, and this is reflected in all the thank you cards, chocolates and sometimes a bag of home-grown lemons received.
What Other Tasks Does Your Day Consist Of?
Jenifer: Throughout the day, I work with a multidisciplinary team to provide a holistic approach to care. This can look like a referral to a physiotherapist or booking a nurse consultation to review a patient’s skin. As you can tell my daily activities revolve around patient care, team work and a lot of communication.
I finish at around five in the afternoon and say good-bye to my team and take a sweet chocolate to end the day.
Launch Your Own Career in Radiation Therapy Today!
After reading all about Jennifer’s fascinating day-to-day schedule, we expect that you’ll want to know how you can follow in her footsteps. Luckily for you, Peter Mac’s employer page is dedicated to doing just that!
Check it out today for insight into how you can start your career and the many different pathways on offer. Trust us, you’re sure to find one that’s perfect for you!
