Radiotherapy & Oncology Student Profile

Amelia is a Second Year BSc (Hons) Radiography (Radiotherapy and Oncology) student. She tells us about her highlights from the course so far and her recent appointment on the Council of Deans of Health’s Student Leadership Programme.

Deciding To Study Radiography

“I always wanted to work in healthcare and I have always been interested in Oncology and learning about the patient pathway and treatment options.

“As Therapeutic Radiographers, we see our patients on a regular basis, so we get to know them (and often their families) very well.

“I was also drawn to the fact that radiography is a field that is always changing, the equipment and techniques we use are always improving.”

Highlights of the Course

“The lecturers really do make the course. The lecturers ensure that we get the technical and physics-related perspective on the course, as well as the patient and emotional wellbeing perspective. It’s a good balance and allows you to see things from both sides. This course really brings the two elements together.

“Our classes are quite small, so we are able to get the most out of our lecturers and have the chance to ask questions in a less daunting environment.

“The content is delivered in smaller classrooms rather than huge lecture halls, so we are able to do a wider variety of activities and groupwork. These smaller classes mean we constantly see our course lead and can discuss any issues or concerns quickly.

“Getting to know and bond with my fellow radiotherapy classmates has been brilliant. We went from complete strangers to friends, and in the professional environment to professional colleagues.

“It has also been fascinating learning how we can use radiotherapy for all different types of cancers and where it is going in the future.”

Reflection on Placement

“I am currently on my third clinical placement, and I absolutely love it. At HSU we tend to split the clinical placement and theory up during the year, so you can develop the necessary academic skills and can then put them into practice. It avoids that feeling of information overload.

“First time round it was very nerve wracking, and you are literally thrown in at the deep end but that is truly the best way to learn. It is surprising how quickly you pick it up. My advice is to not be afraid to make mistakes and ask lots of questions at the appropriate time.

“There are going to be people (either on the course or on placement) that you don’t get on with or give you feedback which is tough to swallow. As long as both yours and their attitudes are appropriate, take any advice on board and try not to take any negative feedback to heart.

“We pretty much work up to a Band 5 radiographer level (depending on what year you are in of course). We start with the basics, such as setting up the patient bed, talking to patients, getting them on and lining them up before going outside the room, verifying they are in the right place and delivering the treatment.”

Advice For Potential Radiography Students

“Do it! Trust me when I say it is probably one of the most upbeat places you can work. You have nothing to lose!”

The Council of Deans of Health’s Student Leadership Programme

“This is a type of mentoring programme that helps develop your leadership skills and allows you to take control of your weaknesses and improve them. It is also a chance to get to know all the different type of nurses, midwives, paramedics and Allied health professionals and build up your networking skills.

“We had a conference in September where all of us met and had some amazing guest lecturers from staff who had some amazing careers.

“Over the course of year, we will be meeting with our assigned coach so we can talk about what leadership skills we want to improve on and set goals to achieve them.”

Ambitions For The Future

“This seems to change for me every so often. There are definitely some areas that I know I don’t want to take my career. But there are so many areas I like. I am interested in research but have recently really discovered a love for physics, so who knows.”

You can find out more about the BSc (Hons) Radiography (Radiotherapy and Oncology) course here.