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22nd May 2025
Meet the Team – Radiation Therapists
Radiation therapists are tasked with the delivery of radiotherapy treatment, which uses high-energy rays to damage and prevent cancer cells from growing and dividing. At Mater Private Network’s Mid-Western Radiation Oncology Centre in Limerick, our team of radiation therapists collaborate with the wider team including consultants, nursing, medical physics, administration and other support staff to deliver the highest standard of patient care.
Jennifer Delaney and Hannah Mullane are radiation therapists at the centre. They shared some insight into what their role involves, what patients can expect when attending for treatment, and how the team supports patients every step of the way.
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Can you describe the role of radiation therapists and when can patients expect to meet you?
As radiation therapists, we are responsible for the accurate, safe and comfortable delivery of radiotherapy treatment. Patients attending our radiotherapy centre will typically meet us following their initial consultation with a consultant radiation oncologist. At that stage, a computed tomography (CT) planning scan will be scheduled. The purpose of the scan is to map out the cancer site and aid our team in the development of the treatment plan. When patients come in for their CT scan, we allocate time to discuss what they can expect from their radiotherapy treatment.
Following the CT planning scan, our medical physics team use the images to map out an individualised treatment plan for each patient. As radiation therapists, we liaise with the planning team and review the plan to ensure the treatment is accurate and safe to deliver. Once patients begin their radiotherapy treatment, we work closely with the nursing team to monitor and manage any side effects patients may experience.
What does a typical day look like?
Our typical day begins by carrying out the daily quality assurance of the treatment machines, ensuring that they are functioning correctly before treatment begins. Once completed, we bring patients in for their treatment. We position the patients on the bed, ensure they are comfortable, and then we step out of the room to deliver the treatment and monitor the patient. Once the treatment session is completed, we bring the patient out and check how they are feeling and if they have experienced any side effects since their last session. On the day of their treatment, patients may also meet with our nursing team, the dietician, or patient coordinator, who help to manage any side effects, provide nutritional advice, and help with appointment scheduling and any other queries.
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy, also called radiation therapy, is a highly targeted, highly effective way to destroy cancer cells. Radiotherapy uses high-energy rays to damage cancer cells and stop them from growing and dividing.
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How do you emotionally support patients undergoing treatment?
Undergoing radiotherapy can be a daunting experience, especially when treatment is scheduled daily over several weeks. Our team places a strong emphasis on emotional support and strives to make each patient feel as comfortable and supported as possible.
From the moment patients arrive, we assess patients’ wellbeing, and we offer any assistance that may help ease their visit. Regardless of how many sessions a patient has already attended, the team is always available to answer questions and provide reassurance.
We understand that a cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming, and we do everything we can to support patients throughout their treatment. We have fantastic support services in place, and we can refer patients to counselling services for additional support.
In your experience, what are some of the common misconceptions people have about radiotherapy, and how do you address them?
Many patients arrive for their radiotherapy appointment with understandable concerns or misconceptions. One of the most common misconceptions is that radiotherapy will be painful. In reality, the treatment is painless - patients will not feel or see anything while it is being delivered.
Another misconception is the idea that patients will become radioactive after receiving treatment. For external beam radiotherapy, this is not the case. Patients do not become radioactive, and it is completely safe to be around others following treatment.
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