RADIATION ONCOLOGIST
He or she is your physician who specializes in the medical use of X-rays to treat people with cancer and various other conditions. This physician must complete four years of college, four years of medical school, one year of general medical training and four years of residency training in radiation oncology and be certified in therapeutic radiology by the American Board of Radiology.

PRIMARY NURSE AND ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSE
Your nurse works with the radiation oncologist and radiation therapists to care for you during your treatment. He or she assists your physician by focusing on education, assessment and symptom management and quality of life issues. Radiation oncology nurses are licensed registered nurses. Many of them have additional accreditation in oncology nursing. Advanced Practice Nurses (Clinical Nurse Specialists and Nurse Practioners) have completed a Master's degree program.

RESIDENT
Your resident, a physician in training in radiation oncology, may also assist your physician.

RADIATION PHYSICIST AND DOSIMETRIST

The radiation physicist has a master's degree or Ph.D. in medical physics. The physicists are responsible for the treatment machines as well as the design and implementation of complex treatment plans. Under the supervision of the physicist, the dosimetrist plans the actual treatment and calculates the dose to be delivered as prescribed by the physician.

RADIATION THERAPISTS
Your radiation therapists have completed two to four years of specialized training in the delivery of radiation for medical use and are certified in radiation oncology. They operate your treatment machine.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
The administrative assistant helps your physician schedule appointments for you and is available to answer your questions and direct you to the appropriate person at UCSF. He or she can help to facilitate communication with your physician or primary nurse.

SOCIAL WORKER
The social worker is available to help you and your family cope with the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and provide connections to helpful community resources.