S3009
Invited Speaker
ESTRO 2026
information about the practical aspects of treatment, the purpose of the treatment, and the risk of short and long-term side-effects. It is also vital to listen to their voices through research, and to include them as partners in the development of research. Several examples of initiatives to inform and include patients as partners in research are presented. Examples of hospital and public science events from Cambridge, UK are offered to show initiatives providing general information about radiotherapy to both patients and the public. Additionally, examples of consent enhanced with information on short and long term risks are presented, along with a project and clinical trial using an AI app to provide risk information to breast cancer patients about lymphoedema. Some results submitted within the Lancet Breast Cancer Commission on hidden financial costs of treatment are highlighted.A road map to highlight opportunities for patient involvement as partners in research is also presented. Examples of hospital and public science events from Cambridge, UK are offered to show initiatives providing general information about radiotherapy to both patients and the public. Additionally, examples of consent enhanced with information on short and long term risks are presented, along with a project and clinical trial using an AI app to provide risk information to breast cancer patients about lymphoedema. Some results submitted within the Lancet Breast Cancer Commission on hidden financial costs of treatment are highlighted.A road map to highlight opportunities for patient involvement as partners in research is also presented. The understanding of the importance of initiatives to inform and include patients is increasing, but much more needs to be done. References: Danielle Fairweather et al ., Healthcare 2025,13,1351
In conclusion, guiding and supporting patients and caregivers in radiotherapy requires a combination of effective communication and interdisciplinary collaboration contributes to improved psychological outcomes, treatment adherence, and overall quality of life. References: Zhao, 2025, International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics; Tonsbeek, 2024, Oral Oncology; Tang, 2023, Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare; Lewis, 2021, The Laryngoscope; Uysal, 2021, Supportive Care in Cancer; Rogers, 2020, European Archives of Oto-Rhino- Laryngology; Astrup, 2020, European Journal of Cancer Care;
Rocque, 2019, The Oncologist; Nightingale, 2016, Chronic Illness
5337 Radiotherapy: myths and reality. Understanding the patient’s perspective. Antonella Cardone CEO, Cancer Patients Europe, Brussels, Belgium Many patients begin treatment with deeply rooted fears and inaccurate information, stemming from hearsay and sometimes shared misconceptions, such as the belief that radiotherapy is painful, makes patients radioactive, causes unavoidable severe side effects or is reserved for terminal cases. Reality is very different: the procedure itself is painless, side effects are generally manageable and localised, and radiotherapy is used in many stages of the disease. Numerous studies show that initial fears are often more intense than the real experience and most patients report that the treatment was less difficult than expected. The true “more than the beam” emerges when listening to patients’ stories. Radiotherapy is a pathway that touches emotional, psychological and social dimensions. All this weighs as much as the physical effects. It is therefore essential to move beyond a vision focused exclusively on technology and adopt a truly patient-centred approach. 5338 Informing the Patient, Including their Voice Hilary Stobart Trustee, Independent Cancer Patients' Voice, London, United Kingdom. RADNET PPI Group, Cancer Research UK, Cancer Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom
https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13111351 D.Hutton et al .,Radiography 29 (2023) S8-S10 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2023.01.011 Coles CE et al. Lancet. 2024 Apr 12:S0140- 6736(24)00747-5 Ng S et al . BJC Rep. 2025 Aug 19;3(1):55
https://www.rcr.ac.uk/our-services/management- service-delivery/national-radiotherapy-consent-forms/
5339 Creating comfort: The RTT perspective Michelle M Leech
Discipline of Radiation Therapy, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland. Radiation Therapy, Trinity St. James's Cancer Institute, Dublin, Ireland
It is known that there are physical and psychosocial impacts of radiotherapy treatment. Patients need
Creating comfort' for patients can be interpreted in a variety of ways by radiation therapists. This
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