Reflective practice is an integral part of developing a radiotherapy student's professionalism. In the following review we see the benefits of reflective practice and what it achieves, as well as the value of professional practice and what it requires. We see an example of this professionalism when we reflect on Carla's experience with breast cancer and her interaction with professionals throughout her treatment. From this reflection, we see the importance of communicating professionally in order to provide the best level of care to the patient, both physically and emotionally. According to Sandars (2009, 685), reflection is a process of reviewing thoughts in order to interpret and analyze events, creating a better understanding of oneself and influencing future actions and responses. In healthcare, reflection is essential because it improves the actions of a healthcare professional, leading to an improvement in the quality of care and therefore having an impact on the well-being of the patient. A reflection may be personal in the form of a journal, comments from other staff and patients or a structured analysis of incidents. Reflective practice is the responsibility of the professional and constitutes an ongoing process throughout their career (Sandars 2009: 688). As White (2003, 8) points out, reflective practice is of vital importance for a radiotherapy student, as it allows them to review methods and develop a better understanding of best practice early in their career. This allows one to stay up to date with current technique and technology and to challenge and refine clinical practice (Chapman, Dempsey and Warren-Forward 2009, Introduction). Reflecting on practice helps to analyze incidents and rely on technology...... middle of paper ...... brief in my actions. I intend to consider the consequences of my actions before implementing them. If I can improve these skills, my patients will benefit, as I aim to improve the standard of care I provide as a radiation therapist. Reflective practice questions the actions and experiences of students and professionals. This requires self-assessment and analysis of actions and calls for change to improve care. This high quality of care is defended by healthcare professionals who make their patients a priority. Carla's experiences highlight the impact that professionals can have on patients and show how the actions of these professionals had a significant impact on her emotional well-being throughout her treatment. Reflecting on this, I aim to develop my communication and self-assessment skills to ultimately improve the care I provide..