Radiotherapy unit is changing lives as global awareness day launches
Ahead of the first-ever World Radiotherapy Awareness Day (WRAD) on Sunday 7 September, Southend Hospital is shining a spotlight on the life-saving impact of its radiotherapy services for cancer patients.
Each year, the hospital delivers around 30,000 radiotherapy treatments to 2,500 patients across mid and south Essex.
Radiotherapy remains one of the most effective cancer therapies, playing a role in nearly half of all cancer treatments worldwide.
Recent innovations at Southend have transformed patient experience. Using state-of-the-art imaging and surface-guided technology, treatments are now faster, more accurate and less invasive. For many patients, this means fewer side effects and the ability to carry on with daily life during treatment.
Nicky Whilde, Head of Radiotherapy Physics at the Trust, said: “Every year the demand for cancer treatment grows, and radiotherapy is at the heart of meeting that challenge. At Southend, we are committed to giving patients the most precise, safest and comfortable treatment available.”
Helping deliver that radiotherapy is a large and dedicated multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals, including radiation oncologists, therapeutic radiographers, specialist nurses, medical physicists, radiologists, dietitians, physiotherapists, as well as potentially surgeons, pathologists, and other allied health professionals, depending on the specific needs of a patient.
Radiotherapy staff at Southend will be standing alongside cancer centres worldwide to mark WRAD, under the theme “One Voice for Radiotherapy”, the first day of its kind is aiming to raise awareness, educate the public, and call for equitable access to this life-saving treatment for patients everywhere.