Fundraisers’ bid to boost cancer care
A major fundraising campaign for radiotherapy equipment that will revolutionise treatment for patients at the RUH has been launched by the Bath Cancer Unit Support Group.
The charity, which funds vital medical equipment for the cancer unit at the RUH, needs to raise £580,000 by the end of 2024 to purchase two surface guided radiotherapy technology (SGRT) systems.
Surface guided radiotherapy can track a patient’s position with pinpoint accuracy during treatment.
This helps to ensure that radiation reaches exactly the right place while avoiding vital organs.
Patients receiving radiotherapy to the head can also wear an openfaced mask, which is less claustrophobic than a full-face one.
It is hoped the new technology will help cut treatment times and waiting lists because SGRT reduces the need for repeat imaging.
It also removes the need for permanent marks on patients unlike traditional radiotherapy which requires at least three small tattoos to position patients correctly. This can have a negative psychological impact on patients because the marks are often a permanent reminder of their cancer treatment.
Instead, the SGRT system tracks the skin’s surface using special infrared 3D cameras to ensure patients are always in the correct position. The radiation beam stops automatically if the patient moves, which makes it much safer than traditional treatment.
“The prospect of having this new technology in our department is really exciting,” said Lisa Tolson, radiotherapy service manager at the RUH. “We’re so thankful to the Bath Cancer Unit Support Group for making it the focus of their new fundraising campaign.
“Every year the number of cancer patients needing treatment at the RUH is increasing, so we are always looking at efficiencies while maintaining the very highest standards of healthcare so that patients have the best possible outcomes. This is exactly what surface guided radiotherapy technology provides.
“It will give reassurance that patients are receiving the right doses of radiation in exactly the right place, thereby ensuring their safety at all times. So please support the fundraising campaign and help ensure that patients at the RUH can benefit from this groundbreaking technology.”
BCUSG vice-chairman Sue Oliver has personal experience of radiotherapy treatment that leaves permanent marks. “For a woman who has had breast cancer, it’s a reminder every time I look in the mirror of the disease, my treatment and my fight against it,” said Sue.
“So, when we were asked to fund the two SGRT systems for the RUH, I supported it 100 per cent, not only because other patients won’t have to live with permanent markers, but also because the technology will allow healthcare professionals to position patients more accurately and target treatment more effectively.”
■ To donate to the new campaign, or discuss becoming a corporate partner, please email Alan Webb at fundraising@bcusg.org or phone 07896 741233.