what you need to know – Matin Libre

What to know about radiation oncology, the role and importance of the radiation oncologist in the health system? In a publication relaunched on the page of the National Order of Doctors of Benin (Onmb), Dr. Comlan Ulrich Houessou, doctor, specialist in oncological radiotherapy, provides some clarifications.

“Cancerology or oncology is a vast medical field that deals with the study, diagnosis and treatment of solid tumors (with the exception of blood cancers, whose treatment is generally entrusted to a haematologist). Additionally, oncologists have in-depth knowledge of the mechanisms of cancer, the drugs used, and the side effects associated with the treatment. According to the variety of means used in the treatment of cancer, there are different types of oncologists: The surgical oncologist (carcinological surgery); the medical oncologist (medical oncology); the radiation oncologist (radiotherapy oncology).

What about radiation oncology?

Oncology-radiotherapy is a branch of medicine specialized in the loco-regional treatment of cancerous pathologies through the use of ionizing radiation. There are 2 different types of radiation therapy:

External radiation therapy using an external source of ionizing radiation emitted by a linear particle accelerator;

Brachytherapy, which consists of temporarily placing a radioactive source in the form of an implant in or near the area to be treated within the patient’s body.

Radiation therapy is an interdisciplinary specialty that works in collaboration with other specialties in the care of cancer patients, including: medical oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, organ specialists, and surgeons. Radiation therapy can be used alone during treatment: this is referred to as exclusive radiation therapy. It can be in simultaneous combination with chemotherapy or targeted therapy: this is called concomitant radiochemotherapy (CRC). The therapeutic strategy is discussed in multidisciplinary consultation meetings (SPC).

The oncoradiotherapist works within a specialized team made up of a medical physicist with whom he prepares and carries out dosimetric studies (calculates the doses necessary for the cure) and plans the radiotherapy treatment (radiotherapy sessions). These radiotherapy sessions will be carried out by radiotherapy technicians.

To become a radiation oncologist you need to do 7 years of basic medical studies, followed by 4 or 5 years of specialization depending on the training schools. It is a very exciting and multidisciplinary specialty where each patient has a different cure. Thanks to new innovative and cutting-edge techniques, radiotherapy adapts to patients and allows indications to be extended to inaccessible tumors.

My radiotherapy activities are spread over several days during the week: in consultation with new patients (announcement and explanations of the course of treatment); weekly monitoring of patients undergoing radiotherapy treatment (to check patient compliance with treatment and to treat any acute side effects of radiotherapy); in the post-treatment consultation of treated patients (to prevent relapses after treatment and treat chronic complications of radiotherapy); delineate tumor volumes to be irradiated and organs at risk on simulated CT images; participation in various multidisciplinary consultation meetings (CPR); go to the brachytherapy unit for treatment

It is a beautiful, very exciting, dynamic and multidisciplinary specialty, rich in human contacts and places of life, contrary to the depressing image that the general public and certain doctors can give it.

By 2024, Benin will have its first radiotherapy department at the Abomey-Calavi referral hospital. Consequently, I take this opportunity to invite my young colleagues not to hesitate to get involved in this specialty”

AB