National Radiotherapy Awareness Initiative 2011

The National Radiotherapy Awareness Initiative is a group of organisations who are working to improve awareness of, and access to, radiotherapy services during 2011. This is in response to a number of surveys highlighting a huge gap in public knowledge about the effectiveness of radiotherapy.

Members of the initiative include: The Royal College of Radiologists, The Society and College of Radiographers, Cancer Research UK, the Institute of Physics & Engineering in Medicine (IPEM), the NHS and representatives from all UK countries.

The initiative has come about in response to a survey by YouGov (published 28th January 2011) in which fewer than one in ten people think that radiotherapy is a modern cancer treatment. While 47 percent of those asked thought targeted cancer drugs, like Herceptin, were modern, only nine percent thought radiotherapy was a cutting edge treatment. The research, involving more than 2,000 UK adults, highlights how little people understand about radiotherapy – an underrated treatment which helps cure four in ten patients, more than conventional chemotherapy.

New, more targeted radiotherapy techniques such as intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) or image guided radiotherapy (IGRT) are transforming the lives of cancer patients. These new ways of delivering radiotherapy mean cancer cells are targeted more precisely, increasing cure rates, and patients experience fewer side effects.

But the survey revealed that only 15 per cent of people think radiotherapy is precise. And 40 per cent of people describe radiotherapy as frightening compared to just 16 per cent who said the same for targeted cancer drugs. Radiotherapy is now recommended for half of all cancer patients as part of their treatment.

One key development of the Initiative is the Year of Radiotherapy 2011. The Year of Radiotherapy was launched at a media event on Friday 28 January 2011, at the Science Media Centre in London, following which media coverage appeared on TV, radio, and in print. The National Radiotherapy Awareness Initiative’s aim is to build on this launch throughout 2011, publicising awareness of radiotherapy via other conferences, lectures and press activity in which the Initiative's key stakeholders are involved.

RCR President Dr Jane Barrett said, "Radiotherapy plays a vital role in both curative and palliative treatments for most cancer patients. The RCR is very pleased to support the Year of Radiotherapy and its key aims to promote greater awareness amongst patients and the public of the effectiveness of radiotherapy."