Here’s what an aspiring radiotherapist needs to know
Radiotherapy, also known as radiation therapy, refers to the therapeutic use of ionizing radiation that is primarily used for the treatment of any malignant or cancerous disease. It is still an emerging and innovative career prospect in India and suitable for science aspirants who want to be involved in the healthcare industry, but do not want to study medical. For these students, getting an undergraduate B.Sc. degree in Radiotherapy right after their Class XII board exam can be a good option.
Courses available
In India, youngsters aspiring to study radiotherapy right after their class 12 can opt for three-year undergraduate B.Sc. programmes. As part of their radiotherapy degree course, students learn all about anatomy, radiation hazards and protection, pathology, physiology, general radiography, generation and properties of X-Ray, MRI, CT scan, Ultrasound, Interventional in Diagnostic Radiography, Anaesthesia, Nuclear medicine and PET Scan, Doppler and Echography and more such related topics. Apart from these medical terms and procedures, radiotherapy students also learn about two important things, namely: Communication skills and personality development to handle terminally ill patients and organisational behaviour to deal with day-to-day witness of traumas.
Institutes to pursue radiotherapy
Some of the popular institutes in India to pursue B.Sc. in Radiotherapy are Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, St. Xaviers College, Mumbai, Symbiosis Institute of Health Sciences, Pune and CMC Vellore.
Eligibility criteria to pursue radiotherapy in college
Students who wish to study undergraduate degree course like B.Sc. in radiotherapy after their class 12 board exams should secure a decent percentage in their qualifying exam. Most colleges in India prefer 50 percent aggregate and above. They also should have studied compulsory Physics, Chemistry and Biology (science stream) as part of their 10+2 curriculum.
Apart from this, they also need to sit for entrance exams that assess their basic science knowledge and general aptitude which are occasionally followed by an interview. Most institutes prefer candidates who are sixteen years and above.
Career options
Radiotherapy is a branch of medical science that is growing in demand for the diagnosis of diseases. In India, after the completion of B.Sc. in radiotherapy, students can pursue career options like radiologist, radiology technician, MRI technician, Radiotherapy technologist or radiographer, Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, Ultrasound technician, and CT Scan technologist. Hospitals, nursing homes, medical and diagnostic centres hire these professionals.