Radiotherapy team gets HSJ award shortlist for innovative cancer work
UHDB’s radiotherapy team has been shortlisted for a prestigious Health Service Journal (HSJ) award in recognition of their efforts to improve outcomes for cancer patients.
The team, which is based at Royal Derby Hospital, is up for the HSJ’s partnership award for ‘Most effective contribution to improving cancer outcomes’ for their collaboration with Vision RT to deliver an innovative tattoo and mark-free treatment to patients.
Traditionally, radiotherapy involves tattooing patients after their CT scan to give a starting point for set up during treatment. The tattoos are permanent dots positioned in the most stable place found near the treatment area and patients can have up to 5 of these permanent marks placed on their skin as well as temporary pen marks drawn onto the treatment area. Whilst the patient is having treatment, these temporary marks can stain clothing, make washing and caring for the area difficult as well as impact on daily activities such as continuing with hobbies like swimming and sports.
However, this new technology allows for patients with cancer to receive more accurate treatment without a permanent reminder of their cancer journey.
Lydia Kedziorek, Principal Treatment Superintendent, said Royal Derby Hospital were the first cancer centre in the UK to offer this service from the first day of go-live and the team are really proud to have made the shortlist for something that is having such a positive impact on patients.
She said: “Being a long-term survivor of cancer is becoming a normal part of life and a big part of achieving this is delivering more accurate treatment with higher doses and fewer fractions. We chose to partner with Vision RT and to use Align RT SGRT to improve treatment outcomes through accuracy and efficiency as well as reduce the psychological impact by removing the need to tattoo patients, taking away the permanent reminder of what they had to go through.
“We are really proud of the whole team for the work we’ve done and a bit overwhelmed because we didn’t expect to be shortlisted for an award at that level. It’s nice to be recognised for the work we are doing with our patients.
“When Vision RT approached us and asked us to work with them on an application, we were delighted and we are over the moon to have made the shortlist.”
As Lydia explains, there are many benefits to how this new treatment is delivered.
She said: “It is a more accurate treatment so previously if a patient moved or coughed during their radiotherapy you would have the risk of delivering radiation to the wrong area because the human eye might not necessarily pick up the patient’s slight movement. But this system maps the patients surface so if they move by even a couple of millimetres it can cut off the radiation beam so it will stop treating the patient if they move position.
“It also allows us to set the patient up more accurately. We are trying to replicate the same patient position every day for treatment but the tattoos weren’t always stable which led to set up issues however this technology allows us to set up the patient more accurately so we can easily reproduce that patient position every day.
“A study has also shown that using this technology can reduce cardiac damage for those patients who have to breathe in and hold their breath, resulting in the chest wall coming away from the heart, which is really positive.”
So far, the new treatment has been well received by patients, as previously there were concerns over how the tattoos and marks left from the treatment would psychologically impact on patients.
“We have patients who don’t want tattoos for lots of different reasons including cultural reasons and this allows for us to do this without them having a constant reminder or going through another procedure.
“Although it’s only a small dot we do have to put a pin-prick needle in and for patients that have been through chemotherapy and have had lots of needles they don’t want to go through it again.
“We have had a lady who has travelled to us from another centre so she could have tattoo free treatment. I think there are lots of benefits and as we are explaining the process to the patients and the accuracy of it they are very grateful to be receiving the latest technology. It has been really positive so far.”
Lorna Wood, Clinical Applications Specialist at Vision RT said the team was delighted to receive recognition for its partnership with UHDB.
She said: "One of the things that’s been really special about this project is that the benefits aren’t just local. Royal Derby Hospital has shown real leadership in hosting clinicians from other hospitals and trusts, so that they can see the positive impact and results of this project, so that it can be replicated throughout the NHS.”
The team will do a presentation for judges before finding out if they have won the HSJ award at a ceremony on 23 March.