The Rosemere Cancer Centre in Lancashire has been recognised as a centre for excellence in surface guided radiotherapy, becoming one of the first in the country to be awarded the title.
Treating approximately 240 cancer patients a day, five days a week, the department is now preparing to host radiotherapy teams from 64 other specialist cancer centres in the country who are looking to develop their own surface guided radiotherapy (SGRT) centres.
SGRT is an advanced, non-invasive set up and monitoring tool used to improve the efficacy and experience of radiotherapy.
Largest single-site SGRT centre
Rosemere established SGRT in six of its eight radiotherapy treatment rooms and its CT scanner room in March 2023, after spending £1.3 million on equipment.
This purchase made Rosemere Cancer Centre, situated at Royal Preston Hospital, the largest single-site SGRT centre in the whole country and launched a rollout of the system, starting with a small number of breast cancer patients.
A further £405,000 investment from charitable funds this year means now, all eight radiotherapy treatment rooms and an additional CT scanner make use of SGRT.
All breast cancer, lung cancer and palliative care patients now use SGRT during their radiotherapy treatment, with the system set to replace conventional radiotherapy for all patients needing treatment for gynaecological, prostate, bowel and bladder cancers, starting in January.
Making treatment faster and easier
The centre’s principal Therapeutic Radiographer Lisa Laws said: “Patients appreciate not having to have tattoos, which can be a permanent reminder of their treatment. Staff find treatment delivery faster and easier and with a reduced risk of handling strains from having to move patients. We are very grateful to Rosemere Cancer Foundation and all its supporters for helping us to be one of SGRT’s early adopters.”
Dan Hill, head of charities here at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are delighted that Rosemere Cancer Centre has become one of the first specialist cancer centres in the country to achieve SGRT centre of excellence status.
“SGRT has many benefits to both patients and radiotherapy team staff. It’s a non-invasive mapping system that uses a near infra-red light to better position patients so that their radiotherapy treatment is delivered with improved accuracy and speed. This reduces the risks of side-effects caused by damage to the surrounding area and from overall exposure to radiation from repeat positioning scans and exposure during the actual treatment process.”
He continued: “Patients no longer need to have tattoos as treatment guide marks and there is less physical handling, which is better for patient dignity and better also for staff back health and efficiency.”
(Image: Rosemere Cancer Centre radiotherapy department team, via Rosemere Cancer Centre)