Radiotherapy and Oncology

Radiotherapy and oncology is a healthcare profession concerned with the planning and delivery of radiation treatment to patients with cancer, using X-rays and other ionising radiations to destroy cancer cells while protecting the surrounding healthy tissue as far as possible. Therapeutic radiographers are the clinical professionals who deliver this treatment, combining highly technical skills in operating complex imaging and treatment equipment with a caring approach to patients who are often at a frightening and vulnerable point in their lives. The discipline demands both precision and compassion in equal measure.

At the University of Suffolk, this three-year full-time degree describes the therapeutic radiographer as someone who can combine technical skills with a caring attitude, has a sense of responsibility, and enjoys working in a team, which captures the dual nature of the role well. You will develop a thorough understanding of the physics of radiation, the biology of cancer and how it responds to treatment, the anatomy and physiology relevant to oncology, and the treatment planning and delivery techniques that modern radiotherapy uses. Clinical placements are woven through the programme, giving you direct hands-on experience in real radiotherapy departments under the supervision of qualified practitioners.

Graduates from radiotherapy and oncology programmes are eligible to register with the Health and Care Professions Council and work as therapeutic radiographers in NHS and private cancer treatment centres. Career progression into specialist roles such as advanced practitioner, consultant radiographer, treatment planning specialist, and research radiographer is well supported. Many radiographers also go on to postgraduate study in areas such as image-guided radiotherapy, proton therapy, or clinical education, deepening their expertise and extending the scope of their clinical practice.