How to Answer: How does radiation therapy affect cancer patients, from your experience?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Radiation Therapists job interview.
22. How does radiation therapy affect cancer patients, from your experience?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
As you know, the effects of radiation may vary from patient to patient. Share examples from patients you have seen as a radiation therapist. If you want to elevate your answer, you can discuss what is happening inside the patient's body. If the cancer cells shrink or resist treatment, explain your perspective.
The advantages of radiation therapy include:
- Controls or stops the growth and division of cancer cells
- Treatments are fast and usually do not require a hospital stay
- Many patients feel well enough to continue their everyday life during treatment
The disadvantages of radiation therapy include:
- If cancer is advanced, you may need multiple treatments per week
- Side effects can include fatigue and nausea
- Skin reactions can occur, such as burning and itching
Written by Krista Wenz on August 18th, 2023
1st Answer Example
"From the patients that I have seen, radiation gives them a lot of hope that their cancer cells will be staved off for good. I see some patients who are very tired during their treatment, which is understandable considering how hard their bodies are working to reproduce healthy cells."
Written by Krista Wenz on August 18th, 2023
2nd Answer Example
"Radiation therapy affects patients in many ways, and everyone will react differently. I have seen patients feel just fine and others with mild side effects, such as a loss of appetite for a few hours post-treatment. Then, others are impacted by chronic fatigue during their treatment cycle. I believe radiation therapy is a very targeted and impactful way of fighting cancer cells, which is why I chose this profession."
Written by Krista Wenz on August 18th, 2023
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