Cancer patient in radiotherapy (5 ECTS)

Objective

The students:
* know the most common types of cancer and their treatments
* understand radiotherapy as a collaboration between different professional groups
* understand the acute and delayed side effects of radiotherapy at different dosages
* are able to support and guide cancer patients and their loved ones during a radiotherapy period
* are familiar with the principles of keeping a record of patient care and understand its significance in the patient's overall care
* understand the principle of operation and use of radiation therapy equipment
* learn about various radiotherapy techniques and methods
* understand radiation safety and quality management in radiation therapy

Content

Clinical pathway of radiotherapy patient
Commonest types of cancer and their treatments
Planning, implementation and evaluation of external radiotherapy
Keeping a record of the treatment of a radiotherapy patient
Side effects of radiotherapy
Radiation safety and quality management
Supporting and guiding cancer patients
Radiotherapy equipment and different radiotherapy methods

Location and time

Spring 2025

Materials

material on Moodle
Literature:.
Sädehoitotyö,Jussila ym. 2010
Kliininen sädehoito. Joensuu ym
Syöpätaudit
Scientific articles
Tuition in Finnish

Teaching methods

Activating lecture
Seminar
Group assignment
Students must confirm their attendance for a course implementation by being present when tuition begins or in another manner agreed with the lecturer; for example, by returning the first course assignment. Students who are unable to attend the first teaching session due to illness may also confirm their attendance by informing the lecturer of this in advance.

Employer connections

Lecturers from working life
Oncology
Brachytherapy
Modern Radiation Therapy
Dose planning (advanced)

Exam schedules

Preliminary Exam
Final Exam
2 Re-exams

International connections

EU guidelines
Materials from visiting radiation therapists

Completion alternatives

No alternative study methods.

Student workload

Theory
Seminar
Individual and group tasks
5 credits = 135 hours students works

Further information

Orientation, cl. fys. lecturer and ongology lessons compulsory

INITIAL TEST: material to be determined later

Seminars mandatory.

Radiotherapy dosing plan analysis mandatory

Content required by law:
radiotherapy equipment and methods, treatment indications, alternative treatment methods, scientific research
general principles of radiation protection (justification, optimization) in radiotherapy
biological basis of radiotherapy, cellular and molecular phenomena in tumor and normal tissue
factors modifying the effect of radiation (fractionation, time, dose rate, oxygen content, etc.)
immediate effects of radiation, late reactions of normal tissue, risks of radiotherapy
assessing and determining the radiation risk in a way that is understandable to the patient
radiotherapy dosimetry
dose planning and treatment verification
symptoms and treatment of acute radiation sickness
quality assurance, self-assessment and clinical audits
radiation protection of the patient and staff

Evaluation scale

0-5

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Assessment criteria
0–5
Assessment criteria for advanced and expert level are applied.

Assessment methods and criteria

The course is graded on the scale of 0-5
Grade is dependant on the exam (theory+technology)
All the tasks are graded on the scale of pass/fail.

Qualifications

Prerequisite studies:
Patient in plain imaging examinations 10 ECTS
Safe usage of medical radiation 5 ECTS
Nursing and drug treatment in clinical radiography: 10 ECTS
Patient in computer tomography and magnetic resonance imaging examinations 10 ECTS