Leeds Cancer Centre Seeks £1 Million for Treatment Improvements

Fundraising campaign aims to enhance radiotherapy care for patients

Leeds Cancer Centre is seeking to raise £1 million to improve the care and treatment of patients undergoing radiotherapy. The fundraising effort focuses on introducing new technology designed to make treatment safer and less distressing, particularly for children and young people.

New Technology to Improve Radiotherapy Experience

The funds will support the expansion of Surface Guided Radiotherapy (SGRT) and the introduction of MapRT planning software, which is reportedly the first of its kind in the UK. These technologies aim to remove the need for closed masks and eliminate the use of permanent tattoos during treatment.

Currently, patients undergoing radiotherapy often have to wear rigid masks to keep them still during treatment, which can cause anxiety and discomfort. The new SGRT technology uses surface imaging to guide radiotherapy, potentially allowing patients to avoid wearing these masks.

Patient Experiences Highlight Need for Change

Two patients shared their experiences to illustrate the challenges faced during treatment:

• Joanna described the mask as “one of the hardest parts of treatment,” citing feelings of claustrophobia and anxiety each day.
• Annabell reported nausea and vomiting caused by the treatment, which was exacerbated by the mask, making her dread attending sessions.

Potential Benefits of the New Approach

• Reduction in patient anxiety by removing the need for closed masks
• Elimination of permanent tattoos used for treatment alignment
• A gentler and safer radiotherapy experience for thousands of patients

The Leeds Cancer Centre hopes that by adopting these technologies, the overall patient experience will be significantly improved, particularly for younger patients who may find current procedures distressing.

Further Information

More details about the appeal and the technology can be found on the Leeds Hospitals Charity website. A video explaining the campaign is available on YouTube here.

Source: Leeds Hospitals Charity