Study shows cancer patients missing out on vital radiotherapy treatment

Published on Monday 6 September 2010 17:12

Cancer patients who could benefit from radiotherapy treatment are not getting access to services due to long waiting times and staff shortages, campaigners have claimed.

Cancer Research UK said their research estimated 43 per cent of cancer patients in Scotland were getting radiotherapy, although studies suggested up to 50 per cent might benefit. Elsewhere in the UK, access was even lower with 38 per cent having radiotherapy in England, 37 per cent in Wales and 32 per cent in Northern Ireland.

Cancer Research UK said this suggested that around 30,000 cancer patients may be missing out each year.

The charity said differences in staffing levels and equipment meant hospitals across the UK failed to offer equal opportunities for patients to receive radiotherapy.

They also said that the UK was lagging behind America and Europe in introducing new, more targeted radiotherapy.

It comes as a survey by the charity showed that only one in ten people knew that radiotherapy helped cure 40 per cent of cancer patients.

They said the treatment had "Cinderella status" on the NHS. Just 14 per cent of 2,000 people polled were aware that half of all cancer patients could benefit from radiotherapy as part of their treatment. The poll also found that other treatments, such as new drugs, surgery and chemotherapy, are generally regarded as more "cutting edge" than radiotherapy.

According to Cancer Research UK, one of the problems with radiotherapy is that accessing the right equipment varies between hospitals, while staffing is also an issue. Even patients who are offered radiotherapy can wait a long time for treatment.

The charity said the UK was behind the US and the rest of Europe in introducing newer, more targeted types of radiotherapy.

One of these is intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), which uses computers to ensure radiotherapy is targeted directly at cancer tumours, thereby minimising damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

Chief Executive Harpal Kumar said "Radiotherapy has a key part to play in treating and curing around 40 per cent of cancers so it's vital there is good, fast access to this service."

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "A higher proportion of cancer patients receive radiotherapy here than in the other UK countries, and last year alone the Scottish Government invested more than 20 million in replacing radiotherapy equipment to make sure patients benefit from the most modern facilities.

"We know how valuable a treatment it can be, and we are continually looking at how to improve our service. But clinical decisions are always about what's best for each patient, made by doctors and patients together."