• Trinity College Dublin

An Introduction to Radiation Oncology: From Diagnosis to Survivorship

Learn about how radiation therapy is used to treat cancer including current treatments and exciting innovations on the horizon.

10,978 enrolled on this course

An Introduction to Radiation Oncology: From Diagnosis to Survivorship

10,978 enrolled on this course

  • 2 weeks

  • 4 hours per week

  • Accreditation available

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Open level

Find out more about how to join this course

The CPD Certification Service

This course has been certified by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to continuing professional development principles. Find out more.

Understand how radiation therapy is used to treat cancer

Radiation therapy is one of the key treatments for cancer. On this course you will learn from healthcare experts about how it works, the various benefits, and myths surrounding radiation therapy. You will also learn about the treatment pathway if you’re prescribed a course of radiaton therapy.

Throughout the course you will find clear, straightforward information on radiation therapy as a cancer treatment. Finally you will look at the exciting new radiation therapy treatments being developed as a system of ‘personalised medicine’.

The course content is available in English, French, Spanish, Russian, German, Portugese and Italian.

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Skip to 0 minutes and 9 seconds The incidence of cancer is rising globally in high, middle, and low-income countries. A cancer diagnosis is a time of great anxiety and fear for patients and their families and carers. There are so many questions that you need answered, and you can be worried about your future and the future of your family. It can be difficult for you to be aware of all cancer treatment options open at this difficult and stressful time. This free online course focuses on radiation oncology, the branch of medicine that uses radiation therapeutically to treat patients for their cancer, either to cure or to ease symptoms. Radiation therapy is the actual treatment delivered to patients by a specialist team of professionals called radiation therapists.

Skip to 0 minutes and 51 seconds Working in a multi-disciplinary team, together with radiation oncologists, radiation oncology nurses, medical physicists, and radiobiologists. At some point in the treatment, 50% to 60% of cancer patients should have radiation therapy to best manage their cancer. In this online course from Trinity College Dublin, we will introduce you to the field of radiation therapy and show you why it is a safe and effective treatment for cancer. As a patient, you have the right to make decisions regarding your own treatment, and being aware of the potential of radiation therapy as a cancer treatment will assist you, together with your medical team, in making a decision as to the best possible treatment for your cancer and your care.

Skip to 1 minute and 34 seconds Over the next two weeks, with academics and researchers from Trinity College Dublin, together with national and international colleagues and patient advocates, we invite you to learn about the role of radiation therapy in the management of different cancers, to experience the radiation therapy patient pathway, and hear about the roles of the specialist medical team that work in radiation oncology. You will hear the personal stories of patients who have been cured of their cancer using radiation therapy, and learn that radiation therapy is a safe, effective, and dynamic field of medicine from international experts.

Skip to 2 minutes and 6 seconds This course is for cancer patients, their families, carers, and friends, and for anyone interested in learning about radiation therapy, how it works, and its benefits as a cancer treatment. We invite you to join us at Trinity College, together with colleagues and advocates from the International Atomic Energy Agency, the European Cancer Organisation, the Irish Cancer Society, and Targeting Cancer to learn about the potential of radiation therapy as a cancer treatment. Together, we will explore the patient pathway and establish that radiation therapy is a safe and effective treatment in the management of many cancers.

Syllabus

  • Week 1

    Setting the scene for radiation therapy

    • Four images of Roisin Whelan, Michelle Leech, Claire Poole, and Julie McCrossan.

      Welcome to our course!

      Welcome! Meet your lecturers and find out what we will be learning in the upcoming weeks. Bienvenue! Bienvenidos! Здравствуйте! Willkommen! Benvenuto! Bem-vindo!

    • A person in a pair of runners walking down a street.

      The patient pathway to radiation therapy

      Learn about the pathway to radiation therapy. Listen to a fictional case study, look at images from a typical department, and watch 3D video of a treatment room.

    • A group of heathcare professionals sitting in a circle on chairs.

      Who's who in radiation oncology

      Radiation therapy treatment is carried out by a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals. Find out about the people who will support you during your radiation therapy.

    • A blue lightbulb

      Next week

      Find out what you will be learning about next week on the course.

  • Week 2

    Science, managing cancers and survivorship

    • The science behind radiation oncology

      Learn how radiation therapy is delivered through different machines and techniques. Meet two more members of the team, a radiobiologist and a medical physicist, and find out about treatment safety.

    • Managing cancer with radiation therapy

      Find out how radiation therapy works in the body, and read two case studies from Liam and Julie about their experiences of the treatment process. We'll also look at the use of radiation therapy for palliation.

    • A group of women with cups of tea chatting.

      After radiation therapy and new developments

      In this section we will be exploring what happens after radiation therapy treatment. You'll be given information about survivorship, follow up care and support groups,

    • A multicoloured lightbulb

      Thanks and goodbye!

      Michelle and Claire would like to thank you for your participation in this course. If you would like a certificate, please complete this test.

Who is this accredited by?

The CPD Certification Service
The CPD Certification Service:

The CPD Certification Service was established in 1996 and is the leading independent CPD accreditation institution operating across industry sectors to complement the CPD policies of professional and academic bodies.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Describe the role of radiation oncology in managing cancer
  • Identify the steps taken in radiation therapy, from a patient's first contact with medical professionals, through to treatment and recovery
  • Recognise the roles of the health care professionals involved in radiation therapy
  • Discuss the safe use of radiation therapy in cancer care
  • Explain the basic science behind radiation therapy
  • Describe state of the art radiation therapy, such as personalised medicine
  • Discuss upcoming biological and technological developments in radiation therapy

Who is the course for?

This course is for cancer patients who are likely to undergo radiation therapy as part of their cancer management plan. It will also be of interest for carers, family members and health professionals who may work with cancer patients (for instance physiotherapists, dieticians, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, dentists, nurses and general practitioner or family doctors).

Who will you learn with?

Michelle Leech

My name is Michelle Leech and I am Associate Professor, Radiation Therapy at Trinity College Dublin. I have worked in the field of radiation therapy for more than 20 years.

Claire Poole

My name is Claire Poole, Assistant professor and Head of Clinical Education, Trinity College Dublin. I am passionate about treating patients and improving patient care.

Who developed the course?

Trinity College Dublin

Trinity College Dublin

Founded in 1592, Trinity College Dublin is Ireland’s highest ranked university. It promotes a diverse, interdisciplinary environment to nurture ground-breaking research, innovation, and creativity.

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$244.99 for a whole year

Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Tests to boost your learning
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$54/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Tests to boost your learning
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 18 Feb 2025

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

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