We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Dosimetry?

By Debra Durkee
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 7,184
Share

Dosimetry is a medical science used to determine the optimal amount of medication to be given to those undergoing treatment for cancer. A number of variables are taken into account, with the end goal of prescribing the least amount of radiation or chemotherapy that will have the greatest benefit. An individual who has his or her degree in the field is called a dosimetrist.

There is often a dosimetrist on an oncology team at cancer treatment facilities. While another medical professional will typically prescribe the type of treatment, the individual with experience in dosimetry is responsible for determining the amount of radiation or chemotherapy to deliver to the patient. These types of cancer treatments kill not only cancer cells but healthy cells as well; administering the correct amount of treatment will help minimize side effects as well as the death of healthy tissue.

In addition to determining the amount of medication to be administered, an individual experienced in the field of dosimetry is often called upon for other associated tasks. These include setting up the therapy, developing casts to immobilize the patient, and ensuring that radiation is delivered to the correct area of the body. He or she is usually also involved with scheduling therapies.

There are many different areas that can overlap with dosimetry. Mathematical skills are of the utmost importance, as the field involves numerous calculations in order to determine the correct treatment dose. It also requires individuals to be able to work in three dimensions without seeing the tumor or cells being treated. Dosimetry is well within the realm of the medical field, and an individual pursuing a career should be well versed in medical terminology, treatments, and medications,, and knowledgeable about the dangers of radiation.

In some cases, dosimetry is not as straightforward as simply administering a treatment. A number of considerations come into play when developing a treatment plan. A tumor may be in the vicinity of another, healthy organ, and this can require a change in the delivery system. As this is a common occurrence, research is another vital component of dosimetry. Dosimetrists are the individuals that are most familiar with the delivery system of cancer treatments, and they can be of invaluable assistance when new treatments are being developed.

An important part of dosimetry is working with the patient. Like many healthcare professionals, the dosimetrist often works in close contact with his or her patient. Communication skills are important when dealing with a patient already in a stressful situation, and the dosimetrist needs to be comfortable with the processes he or she is overseeing as well as explaining them to a patient.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-dosimetry.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.