AIBU to worry about the risk of being a therapeutic radiographer

[hehitmeanditfeltlikeakiss]

I'm looking at career options and would like to work in oncology in some form. I've been considering becoming a therapeutic radiographer but can't help but feel anxious about the risks of radiation involved. Am I being silly or is there actually a genuine risk? Even if it's small, given my anxiety, I don't think I could do it.

They have to do everything to take the risk away, I also work with xrays and there is SO MUCH health and safety (which is good).

We all have badges we wear that make sure we're not exposed to too much radiation, lead gowns, lead screens, well calibrated x-ray machines that are serviced all the time etc etc. I'm pregnant and they're even more paranoid now!

If it's your dream career then go for it!! :-)

you probably get more radiation if you take a plane trip, and from your mobile phone. And neither are harmful.

Do you worry about your exposure being pregnant lovetoomuchfood? I do suffer with anxiety but think I can't go through life avoiding situations that make me anxious. I can't think of any other careers in oncology that I could do at band 6 without being a nurse.

I work in a similar role (not therapeutic but diagnostic) and I’m currently pregnant. I wear my lead so baby is protected and my employers have a duty to me to ensure no risk comes to baby :-) I’m perfectly happy and so are some of my colleagues who have recently had babies :-) if you want to pm me I’d be more than happy to answer any questions.

DH works in nuclear power. Same as hospitals , radiation dose is strictly monitored. You will be fine.

As mentioned you would probably get more radiation dose from flying

Radiation doses are monitored. You have a badge that is sent off to monitor your doses.

Make sure you have excellent childcare in place, especially for placement.

Prepare for a heavy workload with the degree.

I have a friend who’s a therapeutic radiographer, she says due to them spending so much time in lead lined rooms, they have lower amounts of radiation exposure than the general public.

The badges are all very well until you get a bunch of students on placement who decide it would be hilarious to x-ray a badge.........

Thankfully, they owned up before the entire hospital was shut down to determine the source of the radiation.

In nearly all cases, the radiation dose to staff is virtually zero as x-ray machines are operated from outside the room or from behind a shielded partition. There will be a whole team of staff whose job it is to risk assess your work and ensure that protection measures are in place so that you are safe.

Having said that, I know there can be a real issue with interventional radiologists receiving a higher radiation dose than we'd like but they work closely with x-ray machines during surgery and are not typical of everyone involved in hospital radiography work (I'm in a related field but hospital work is not my specialism, so I'm only vaguely aware of the details).

Please don't worry, the risks are negligible.

I am a therapeutic radiographer, there is absolutely no risk. You are not in the same room as the radiation, there is a 1m thick wall between you and the machine, you watch the patients using cameras. There is absolutely no reason to be anxious. It is an incredible, extremely interesting job with so many unique opportunities. As long as you think you can cope with the emotional side of it, go for it. Pm me for more info