Radiation therapists typically do the following:

• Explain treatment plans to the patient and answer questions about treatment
• Follow safety procedures to protect the patient and themselves from overexposure to radiation
• Examine machines to make sure they are safe and working properly
• X ray the patient to determine the exact location of the area requiring treatment
• Check computer programs to make sure the machine will give the correct dose of radiation to the appropriate area of the patient's body
• Operate the machine to treat the patient with radiation
• Monitor the patient to check for unusual reactions to the treatment
• Keep detailed records of treatment

Radiation therapists operate machines called linear accelerators, which are used to deliver radiation therapy. These machines direct high-energy x rays at specific cancer cells in a patient's body, shrinking or removing them. 

Radiation therapists are part of the oncology team that treats patients with cancer. They often work with the following specialists:

• Radiation oncologists, physicians who specialize in radiation therapy
• Oncology nurses, registered nurses who specialize in caring for patients with cancer
• Medical physicists, physicists who help in planning of radiation treatments and help to develop better and safer radiation therapies