An Introduction to Radiation Oncology: From Diagnosis to Survivorship from FutureLearn

In this course you will: This course is structured into two weeks . Week 1: Setting the scene for radiation therapy Week 2: Science, managing cancers and survivorship Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more 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). You can use the hashtag #flradiation to talk about this course on social media.

Topics Covered

Hear stories from patients who have received radiation therapy as part of their treatment.
Follow radiation therapy from a patient’s first contact with medical professionals, through to treatment and recovery.
Identify myths and facts related to radiation therapy treatment.
Discuss the roles of healthcare professionals involved in radiation therapy.
Patient pathway to radiation therapy
Myths and facts
Who’s who in radiation therapy
The science behind radiation therapy
Treating specific cancers (e.g. head and neck, and prostate cancer)
After radiation therapy
New developments in radiation therapy treatments

Reviews summary

Radiation oncology: comprehensive patient & professional guide

According to learners, this course offers an excellent and comprehensive introduction to radiation oncology, highly praised for its patient-centric approach. Students, ranging from cancer patients and their families to various healthcare professionals, found the content remarkably clear and accessible, demystifying a complex medical field. The course effectively uses empathetic patient stories and detailed explanations of the patient pathway from diagnosis to survivorship. While largely positive, a few learners noted it might be too introductory for those seeking advanced scientific depth, though it serves as a strong foundational overview.

Provides a solid framework and clarifies roles for medical staff.

"As a general practitioner, it gave me a much better framework for discussing RT with my patients and understanding the specialists' roles."

"For medical students, it's a solid foundation before diving into more advanced texts."

"As a nurse, it clarified many aspects of RT that I previously only had fragmented knowledge of."

"It empowers patients and provides excellent context for medical staff."

Simplifies complex medical concepts for a broad audience.

"The balance between scientific explanation and accessible language was perfect."

"The myths and facts section was a highlight, clearing up so much misinformation."

"Truly brilliant. The way they explain the complex science of radiation in understandable terms is commendable."

"It demystified the entire process, from diagnosis to what to expect post-treatment."

Offers deeply empathetic patient experiences and perspectives.

"As a patient undergoing radiation, this course was incredibly reassuring. It demystified the entire process... The patient stories were particularly powerful and made me feel less alone."

"My mother is about to start RT, and this gave me the knowledge to support her effectively."

"The emphasis on the patient journey is what makes it stand out."

"This course provides a valuable perspective on radiation therapy. The patient stories add a crucial human element."

Suggestions for more visual aids or deeper dives on specific topics.

"I would have liked more visual aids for the scientific explanations."

"The information on new developments was a bit brief, but a good starting point."

"I especially liked the section on new developments, though I wish it was a bit longer."

Excellent overview, but may lack depth for specialized learners.

"Some parts felt a bit basic for a healthcare professional, but I understand it's for a broad audience."

"I was hoping for more in-depth scientific explanations. It felt very high-level."

"Perhaps it's better for laypeople, but not for someone with a strong science background looking to specialize."

"I felt it could benefit from more detailed case studies for the healthcare professional audience, perhaps as optional deeper dives."

Career center

Learners who complete An Introduction to Radiation Oncology: From Diagnosis to Survivorship will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers: