Why do Radiation therapists need strong mathematical skills and a good knowledge of human anatomy?

Answer 1

Well, let's break it down.

For the math side of things: You will be working with powerful substances and sophisticated medical devices, the slightest miscalculation could be fatal for the patient. The type of calculations used depends on the type of therapy being used. Most modern therapies are targeted and very precise. Geometry and algebra seem relative to me, I'd expect a solid knowledge of computer software to be required as well. If you give the patient too much or too little medication because you don't know how to convert units of measurement or how do to a simple algebraic formula, you could harm them or kill them.

As for anatomy, I'd think this would be obvious. You are treating human beings with a deadly form of energy, in an attempt to destroy the DNA of cancerous cells. Since there are so many different types of cancer, that target every single part of the body, you should probably know what those parts of the body are. Radiation is not only deadly but it can cause cancer itself. If you dosed the wrong part of the body with radiation it could give them a new type of cancer instead of killing the existing cancer.

I'm not sure what you think radiation therapy is, but it's a highly sophisticated and complex medical procedure. Just because it's become routine in western medicine doesn't mean it's simple.

I'll be honest with you, if you have to ask these kinds of questions I don't think this is the right field for you. I would think that anyone looking to go into the medical field would understand why they need to have knowledge of the human anatomy. I think it's pretty obvious why you need strong math skills too. Medicine is all about numbers, everything from checking blood pressure and heart rate to brain surgery requires math skills.