radiotherapy centre - daughter supporting her sick mother

What Aftercare Is Available For You Following Radiotherapy?

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Treatment at a radiotherapy centre does not start nor end with the radiosurgical procedures themselves, but is instead part of a complete, holistic package of care.

Radiotherapists work as part of a multidisciplinary team in planning treatments, physiotherapists, nutritional experts and psychologists are there to help during the preparation for a course of radiotherapy, and aftercare is similarly important following the completion of treatment.

This does not only include follow-ups, active monitoring and managing the lingering effects of the tumour and the treatment to remove it but can also include rehabilitation processes that ensure that recovery is as effective and long-lasting as possible.

Here are some of the stages of aftercare available following a course of radiotherapy treatment.

Follow-Up Appointments

The most direct form of aftercare is in the form of follow-up appointments, which are regular meetings with the lead doctor of your brain tumour treatment.

These appointments will vary considerably in terms of duration and frequency, with the first follow-up often taking place after a course of radiotherapy has been completed in order to provide a full assessment of its progress.

They can be undertaken either in-person at the clinic, via a phone call or on a video conferencing tool depending on a person’s preferences and whether there is a need for tests or scans. Experts, doctors and nurses will be available between appointments to discuss any concerns or new symptoms.

Typically, follow-up appointments take place every few weeks, may include scans, X-rays and occasionally blood tests depending on the type of brain tumour, as well as the opportunity to discuss symptoms.

Self-Management

Some people prefer to have a less hands-on form of aftercare, particularly following the first few months, and this is where supported self-management becomes an option. Follow-up tests and scans will continue to be arranged and undertaken in person as and when required.

This involves regular telephone appointments from the MDT, the option for regular contact if required and information on symptoms to be mindful of, invitations to courses on self-management as well as advice on support in a person’s local area.

Some people prefer a more independent approach as a way of reestablishing control of one’s health, but there are a wide range of options available to access support when it is needed.

Establishing A Recovery And Rehabilitation Routine

Nutrition and physical activity is essential before, during and after treatment for a brain tumour, as it can aid significantly in recovery, and establishing an individually tailored recovery routine is an early and essential part of planning.

A physiotherapist in an MDT will help to establish a schedule for recovery, which may include in-person training sessions, a recommended exercise routine or a combination of both.

This routine will take into account current levels of recovery, energy levels and if there are some complications which make certain exercises less advisable such as peripheral neuropathy or temporary effects to the immune system.

This routine will be based on best practices, as well as the types of exercise activities an individual enjoys, as the best routine for recovery is the one that is most likely to be followed.

It will be flexible and take into account that certain days will need to prioritise rest as a form of recovery rather than physical rehabilitation.

Nutrition Changes

Similar to exercise, changes to a diet can assist in the recovery process or help to manage symptoms, and a nutritional expert will typically be part of an MDT in order to facilitate this.

In some cases, a recovery diet following a brain tumour will simply consist of a balanced diet, one that is often a part of prehabilitation as it pertains to treatment and will benefit almost anyone regardless of treatment progression.

For other people, there may need to be a more strictly tailored diet following treatment to help manage symptoms.

For example, if someone loses weight following a course of radiotherapy, they may be recommended a healthy high-calorie diet initially to ensure they are getting the nutrition they need. This is sometimes known as a building-up diet.

Psychological Aftercare

The multidisciplinary team will do everything they can to ensure that treatment is undertaken as efficiently and as comfortably as possible, but there can be questions and psychological effects that occur that are related to the end of treatment and the recovery process.

Part of this is the result of the end of the structure that comes from regular appointments, and another part comes from the transition from focusing on managing the treatment itself.

A counsellor or psychologist is a common part of many MDTs to provide a safe place to discuss mental health, and they can also direct you to local support groups that allow people to share their experiences.

Radiotherapy treatment - doctor with human Brain anatomy model

What Are The Tell-Tale Brain Tumour Symptoms And Signs?

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The impact that radiotherapy treatment can have on brain tumours can be transformational for patients. In malignant (cancerous) treatments they can extend life considerably, especially if the diagnosis is an early one, while in the best cases, benign (non-cancerous) tumours may be either rendered almost harmless or removed altogether.

Radiotherapy may in some cases be carried out alongside other treatments such as chemotherapy and invasive surgery, but first, a diagnosis is required; some patients can have brain tumours for considerable lengths of time without realising it.

When Symptoms Appear

It is possible in some cases to have a brain tumour while remaining asymptomatic for a long time. This is often because the tumour is growing very slowly, so there is no noticeable deterioration in health or any kind of brain or body function. In benign tumours, this can be especially the case, as they are often very slow-growing.

However, this does not mean patients will never experience symptoms. Rather, it means they will harbour tumours for longer before the signs start to appear.

The upside of this situation is that slow-growing tumours are by nature easier to treat and manage, whereas, by contrast, fast-growing, aggressive and cancerous tumours like glioblastomas are incurable and need more powerful treatment responses.

Whether a tumour is growing rapidly or slowly, is malignant or benign, there will come a point where signs start to appear. Recognising these is the key to diagnosis and to accessing treatment, which can also help tackle some of the symptoms that will begin to impact on the quality of life of the patient.

This will occur chiefly because the growth of the tumour will eventually cause it to press upon the brain, at which point symptoms will start to appear.

Neurological Signs

A progressive neurological disorder is the most obvious sign. This involves a gradual degeneration of brain function and involves a deterioration of core functions such as communication and memory, as well as sometimes leading to personality changes.

It is important to note that progressive neurological disorders represent a broad medical category and they can arise from other causes, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. However, it is often caused by a brain tumour, for example, impeding speech by pressing on the areas of the brain most associated with communication.

The area of the brain that controls speech is usually found on the left side of the brain, although it can be on the right for a minority of left-handed people.

Why Headaches May Be A Sign

Severe headaches can also be caused by tumours. However, this does not mean that most patients who suffer from persistent headaches have a tumour, as there are many other potential causes, such as dehydration, another illness, a sinus infection or susceptibility to migraines.

Nonetheless, around half of tumour patients reported headaches as one of the symptoms that indicated something was wrong.

This means the appropriate response for the patient suffering from persistent headaches is to see a doctor. In the vast majority of cases, it will not be a tumour, but if it is, this will be the first sign that will lead to a diagnosis.  If it is not, the doctor may be able to identify another cause and establish how the problem can be treated.

Another common sign of a tumour is a deterioration in some motor functions. For example, a patient may find muscle weakness or sight impairment. If this happens on only one sign of the body, that may be a tell-tale sign that a tumour is starting to impact on one side of the brain.

Seizures are another problem that can arise. This can include full convulsive fits, but it may also manifest in milder symptoms such as muscle twitches. A further common symptom is vomiting and nausea.

Seeking A Diagnosis

The above symptoms often accompany headaches, but once again it should be emphasised that this is not necessarily the result of a tumour and, like the headaches, may arise from other causes. Nonetheless, patients need to seek medical attention. If the problems are only visual, you should see your optician first.

Since these signs are only indicators that something is wrong, but not necessarily that a tumour is present, patients should discuss them thoroughly with a medical professional. A referral for scans can help identify if a tumour is present and further tests will help establish its characteristics, most importantly whether it is benign or malignant.

The sooner a tumour is diagnosed, the faster treatment can begin. As radiotherapy has the primary effect of shrinking a tumour, it follows that the larger the tumour is, the more it needs to shrink to ease the symptoms. Moreover, treating a malignant tumour earlier gives the cancer less opportunity to spread, helping extend or even save a life.

radiotherapy centre - Hand holding Gray ribbon

What Are The Goals Of Brain Tumour Awareness Month 2025?

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March is one of the most important months of the year for radiotherapy centres which specialise in treatments such as Gamma Knife, as Brain Tumour Awareness Month focuses on doing everything possible to prevent, treat and diagnose brain tumours.

Initially launched in 2004 as a collective effort by several brain tumour charities later known as Brain Tumour Research, Brain Tumour Awareness Month has become an essential part of the work of many organisations that diagnose and treat brain conditions.

Starting with shining a light on the first Monday of the month and ending with Wear A Hat Day on the last Friday, Brain Tumour Awareness Month generates a lot of attention around forward its major central goals.

Earlier Diagnoses

The stated aim of Brain Tumour Awareness Month is to raise awareness of the early warning signs and symptoms that can sometimes be missed due to having multiple potential causes and a lack of specificity.

Headaches, nausea and vision changes that do not appear to improve should be checked as as soon as possible to rule out a tumour as a potential cause or make the transition from diagnosis to treatment as soon as a tumour is confirmed.

Quicker diagnosis allows for less invasive treatments and improved quality of life, so raising awareness is vital not only in the abstract but is connected to treatment outcomes.

The pink and yellow colour scheme and grey ribbons are an essential part of this work, as the more people are aware, the greater the chance they will be diagnosed early and be able to undergo treatment straight away, similar to breast cancer and prostate cancer awareness campaigns.

Improve Access To Treatment

Supporting organisations, clinics and individuals seeking treatment for brain tumours is a core part of the fundraising efforts of Brain Tumour Awareness Month, as it enhances the scope for potential treatments and ensures that people can get the treatment they need as soon as they can be treated.

Part of this is through funding drives to directly help individuals affected by and living with brain tumours, but another part of this work is campaigning for greater access and funding from central governments to increase access to treatments in line with other cancer types.

One particularly effective treatment option for brain tumours is Gamma Knife radiosurgery, where radiation therapy is precisely targeted at cancerous cells to treat a range of different conditions.

No surgical incisions are required for the treatment, with multiple converging beams of gamma radiation used instead to deliver highly focused doses to target areas within the brain.

The main benefit of this treatment plan is that maximal radiation doses are delivered precisely to the target while minimising exposure to surrounding healthy brain tissue. This, in turn, reduces the risk of radiation-related side-effects.

Provide Support

Brain Tumour Awareness Month begins with lighting a candle on 1st March, before ending with Wear A Hat Day on Friday 28th March. The first Monday of March, which this year was Monday 3rd March, featured a minute of silence observed by charities, specialists, celebrities and anyone who wished to remember those affected by brain tumours.

Outside of a demonstration of support and a clear statement to anyone undergoing treatment that they are not facing cancer alone, Brain Tumour Awareness Month also provides support to individuals, clinics and research bodies which help to excise tumours and provide minimally invasive, effective treatment.

Further Research

Precision stereotactic radiosurgery was the result of over half a century of research into radiation and the brain leading to its first experimental treatments in the 1950s, and ever since then, cutting-edge research has been one of the most important tools to help treat a widening group of tumours.

Tools such as proton beam therapy, improvements in diagnostic technology and the development of machine learning and artificial intelligence to assist with both the discovery and treatment of tumours are actively being researched, but the path from discovery to active treatment is expensive.

The goal of Brain Tumour Research is to find a cure for all types of tumours and growths which affect the brain. This requires an approach which spans the complete treatment pathway from a greater understanding of potential symptoms, diagnostics, radiotherapy, medication, recovery and prevention.

According to Brain Tumour Research, one per cent of the money spent each year on cancer research goes towards brain tumour research, and Brain Tumour Awareness Month helps to fund continuous research in a wide range of areas related to brain tumour treatment.

Raise Awareness Of Prevention And Recovery Steps

Whilst there is a wide range of risk factors for brain tumours, many of which are outside of people’s control, there are some lifestyle habits that researchers have been able to confirm that affect the risk of contracting certain types of cancers.

More generally, this includes diet, physical activity, smoking, drinking alcohol and maintaining a healthy weight, but research is being undertaken to ensure that people know which parts of their lifestyle could increase or decrease their risk of brain tumours.

As well as this, it can also help with recovery from treatment, through targeted support, exercise and dietary changes focused on nutrition.

Radiotherapy Treatment - MRI Scan

What’s Next For Gamma Knife Radiosurgery & AI Technology?

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One of the most effective and advanced treatment resources for brain tumours and vascular malformations is Gamma Knife radiosurgery, which first came to the fore during the 1960s and which has continued to evolve quickly ever since.

With the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) over the last year or so, new and exciting opportunities are starting to emerge… some of which have just been published in the spring edition of SCOPE magazine, with contributions from our own clinical team, including Ian Paddick (consultant physicist at Queen Square) and Hannah Bouas (radiosurgery physicist at Thornbury Radiosurgery Centre).

The focus here is on AI-driven auto-contouring for tumour segmentation, achieving greater levels of precision and more consistent patient outcomes in stereotactic radiosurgery.

Read on to find out more about the key conclusions drawn in the Scope piece.

AI-driven auto-contouring for advanced precision

AI-driven auto-contouring for tumour segmentation is a significant breakthrough in Gamma Knife technology, moving away from manual processes that are time consuming and subject to risks posed by human interpretation, particularly in lesions and tumours that don’t have clearly defined boundaries.

Using AI frameworks allow clinicians to segment tumour boundaries with the equivalent accuracy to human annotators, the advantages of which include:

– Reduced human error: Consistency is achieved through AI automation, lowering the risk of inaccurate results while reducing variability and oversights significantly.

– Enhanced patient outcomes: AI tools ensure greater accuracy of tumour segmentation, resulting in more precise radiation delivery to tumour cells and reducing damage risks to healthy brain tissue, as well as reducing the risks of complications and side-effects.

– Efficiency gains: Automation allows for more efficient contour detection in much shorter timescales, thus allowing for faster overall treatment times and reduced waiting lists.

Potential limitations of AI

Although the Scope article does note that AI is an incredibly valuable tool, models for auto-contouring still have some limitations, such as incomplete training data that may not generalise across diverse populations, or imaging noise that results in false positives.

While AI will undoubtedly become more important as a resource in the future, for now clinical oversight and judgement of contouring processes will still be necessary, particularly for more complex cases such as brain metastases.

Amethyst Radiotherapy France Featured on Check-Up Santé

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Acclaimed French television show Check-Up Santé on BFM TV , which focuses on health information and regularly invites medical experts onto the stage to discuss important topics of the day, has asked Olivier Cosset, CEO of Amethyst Radiothérapie France, to appear as a guest on Saturday, 22nd February and Sunday 23rd February.

Mr Cossett will be on the BFM TV flagship health programme talking in depth about the latest innovations in radiotherapy and the increasingly important role the practice has to play in modern cancer treatment, delivering insights into how it is evolving to make cancer treatment more effective and accessible.

“Radiotherapy is undergoing a true revolution, with advancements that are making treatments more precise, efficient, and accessible to more patients than ever before. At Amethyst Radiothérapie France, we are committed to bringing the latest innovations in radiotherapy to improve patient care and outcomes. I look forward to discussing these exciting developments on Check-Up Santé with Fabien Guez and shedding light on how radiotherapy is shaping the future of cancer treatment.”

– Olivier Cosset, CEO of Amethyst Radiothérapie France

Amethyst Radiothépie is one of the biggest private providers of radiotherapy services in France, providing cutting-edge treatments to enhance the patient journey and improve health outcomes across the board.

The episode is due to air on 22nd February at 14:00 EST and Sunday 23rd February at 15:00 EST on BFM TV. Make sure you tune in to hear a truly fascinating discussion on radiotherapy innovation and what the future of cancer care will look like.

Also featuring on the show will be Professor Jean-Emmanuel Bibault, who will be talking about the long history of cancer (which dates all the way back to prehistoric times), just one of the points raised in his book Cancer Confidential: L’histoire du cancer, des secrets d’hier aux revolutions de demain.

radiotherapy centre

Understanding The Use Of Radiation In Cancer Treatment

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For anybody needing radiotherapy, the prospect can be daunting and includes a lot of uncertainty. Some of that will centre on the prognosis and be based on a lack of detailed knowledge of the nature of your condition. However, in the course of your treatment at our radiotherapy centre you will receive plenty of information about this.

Allied to this will be uncertainty about the use of radiotherapy. The fact it involves radiation may be unnerving for some, since radioactivity is usually perceived as a harmful thing. For this reason, you will receive lots of information about what is involved, how treatment is delivered and how it will benefit you as a patient.

Understanding Radiation

The first thing to understand about radiation is that it is everywhere. Background radiation is naturally present in the environment, we get some from the sun’s ultraviolet rays, and we are exposed to it at low levels from some electrical devices.

It is even naturally present in some foods, such as bananas with their high potassium content.

This fact has even led to the establishment of the ‘Banana Equivalent Dose’ measurement of radiation, which is extremely low compared to dangerous doses (such as those associated with nuclear accidents at Chernobyl and Fukushima), but helps provide an example of how safe the levels of radiation exposure are in most cases.

Understood correctly, radiation is like many other things in only being harmful in large quantities. A good example of this would be salt, which is important for our health in low quantities, but in large amounts can cause health problems (especially in the liver).

Radiation And Radiotherapy

This may leave you wondering about just how much radiation is involved in radiotherapy. As a banana equivalent dose, it is undoubtedly high, much more so than other medical procedures and scans you might have.

For instance, the radiation exposure of a dental X-ray is the equivalent of the radiation contained in two bananas. A chest X-ray may be as high as 1,000, a mammogram will be 20,000 and a chest CT scan is much higher still at 70,000.

The level of radiation that would prove fatal within a fortnight is vastly higher than this, at 100,000. This is five times as high as the dose of radiation you will receive in targeted radiotherapy.

If that still sounds like a very high dose, it is, but it is also why radiotherapy is given in limited doses and targeted specifically at the area affected by cancer. This means that a tumour can be shrunk by the radiation damaging its cell DNA, preventing it from repairing cells which consequently die.

However, such exposure can also damage surrounding healthy tissue, which is what causes the various side effects of radiotherapy. This is why your oncologist will explain these to you so you know what to expect and how to cope. Side effects can include hair loss, a loss of appetite, gastric problems and fatigue, so it is important to be prepared.

Some effects can be long-lasting and affect you long after the treatment has concluded, such as your skin looking or feeling different, hair not growing back as well, and, most significantly, infertility in cases where abdominal doses of radiation were given. However, most symptoms will soon fade away.

The Importance Of Precision

To minimise these symptoms, your treatment will be delivered with great precision, using the latest technology. Although radiotherapy has been used in cancer treatment since the turn of the 20th century, it has been refined considerably down the years, partly due to growing scientific understanding of radiation and, latterly, more precise tools.

What this does is enable the dose of cancer cell-damaging radiation to be aimed exactly where it needs to be, with little or no damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

Several devices have been designed to do this in different ways, depending on what kind of cancer it is and where it is located.

For example, the invention of the gamma knife in the 1960s provided an instrument that could provide particularly precise beams of intense radiation.

This made it ideal for use in treating brain tumours, providing a method of shrinking them without the need for invasive surgery (although, in practice, there will be instances where both methods will be used during treatment).

Staying Informed

If you are a patient with us, we will provide you with extensive information about what radiotherapy involves, both in general terms and regarding the specific form of treatment that is best suited to your circumstances.

This will ensure that you can play a part in decision-making about your treatment and that you go into every session fully aware of everything that is going on, giving you confidence and assurance in the treatment you receive.

radiotherapy

Can You Exercise While Undergoing Treatment For Cancer?

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The treatment pathway for cancer once diagnosed will focus on the treatments, medications, radiotherapy and other specialist care that will provide the best possible outcomes, but cancer care does not begin nor does it end with primary treatment.

Maintaining your physical and mental health is vital for treatments to be successful, and whilst exercise and physical activity are essential throughout your life and can in some cases help reduce or remove certain risk factors for cancer according to Cancer Research UK, it also has many benefits during treatment.

A common question that oncologists are asked is about the level of exercise that is advised or recommended for people undergoing cancer treatment.

This is a somewhat more difficult question to answer as whilst exercise is safe and often can help relieve certain symptoms of treatment, every case is different and an exercise plan needs to work with the body.

Your oncologist or a specialist nurse can give you tailored advice, but here are some answers to some general questions when it comes to cancer treatment.

How Much Exercise Should You Do?

Everyone has different levels of activity which work best for them, and the golden rule of exercise is that any physical activity you do will contribute to improved health.

The answer will vary considerably depending on the type of treatment you are receiving, your general level of fitness and any health complications.

Whilst the NHS advice when it comes to fitness is to aim for 150 minutes of physical activity a week, any amount of physical activity will make a difference.

The more exercise you are able to do, the better, but listen to your body as well.

Do You Need To Be Consistent?

The NHS advice is often treated as a consistent target to hit and that you must do 21 minutes of exercise every day, which is not always necessarily feasible. Anyone undergoing long-term treatment will have days when they have more energy than others.

Start with gentle exercise in relatively short bursts, listening to your body in the process to know when to stop.

You do not need to be consistently meeting or breaking personal targets each and every day but try to do something active if you can at all, even if it is a short walk around the house or around the block.

The benefits of consistently being active will be felt as you continue to exercise. As you exercise more, the more you will build yourself up to longer and more intense workouts going forward.

Which Types Of Exercises Are Best?

Your specialist team will be able to provide specific advice, but the best exercises are those that you enjoy and that you feel you can do consistently. Many people will be prescribed physiotherapy specifically to get themselves started, but most gentle exercises can be undertaken by anyone undergoing cancer treatment.

The best exercises are those that push your body but not so much as to risk injury. Whilst more vigorous exercise will provide greater benefits, overtraining or training when you are sore or stiff can be counterproductive.

You could, for example, engage in pursuits such as walking, gentle yoga, light strength training, or water aerobics, all of which you can tailor to suit your own fitness ability, range of motion and mobility. What is important is to listen to your body and pay attention to the cues it gives you so you don’t over-exert yourself.

Are There Any Exercises To Avoid?

There are some types of exercises which may need to be avoided depending on the type of treatment you are undertaking.

For example, people who are undergoing treatment for bone cancer should avoid exercises which might put a strain on the bones. Hydrotherapy and swimming are excellent exercises as they provide both support and gentle resistance, allowing people to exercise more than they otherwise would.

Alongside this, certain types of surgery require some rest before a return to a full exercise regime, although in most cases there will be exercises you can do to keep yourself active before you can return to your usual routine.

Some cancer treatments can affect the immune system, and if you are used to exercising in public gyms, you should ask your medical team when you can start exercising again in order to avoid the risk of infection.

Adjusting Exercise Based on Treatment Side Effects

In the specific case of radiotherapy treatment, if you have areas of sensitive skin, make sure to wear clothing that is both loose and gentle to avoid rubbing and irritation.

It is also worth asking your radiotherapy team about swimming, as some pools use chemical treatments that can irritate sensitive skin depending on what type of treatment you receive.

If you are struggling with balance, coordination, muscle strength or numbness, then an exercise bike or gentle hydrotherapy can be beneficial forms of exercise instead. A physiotherapist can also help you to regain your balance and avoid falling.

Amethyst Radiotherapy UK Appoints Sasha Burns as New CEO.

Amethyst Group appoints Sasha Burns as CEO of UK Operations

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Amethyst Group is pleased to welcome Sasha Burns as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of UK Operations. With a strong background in healthcare leadership, strategic growth, and operational excellence, Sasha will play a key role in advancing Amethyst’s radiotherapy services and expanding access to world-class cancer treatment.

Bringing over 20 years of experience across both the NHS and independent sector, Sasha has a proven track record in transformational healthcare leadership. She previously held senior leadership roles at Alliance Medical, where she served as Chief Commercial and Operations Officer, and Nuffield Health, where she oversaw a network of hospitals and well-being centres. Her expertise spans business transformation, patient care innovation, and operational strategy.

With a background as a radiographer and an MBA from Henley Business School, Sasha combines clinical insight with strategic leadership, making her well-positioned to enhance Amethyst Group’s commitment to pioneering radiotherapy services.

“I am excited to join Amethyst Group and contribute to its mission of delivering innovative, high-quality radiotherapy care. As demand for advanced cancer treatments grows, I look forward to supporting the UK operations in expanding access and driving excellence,” said Sasha Burns.

Amethyst Group continues to strengthen its clinical expertise, patient-focused care, and cutting-edge radiotherapy technology across its European network. Sasha’s appointment reflects our ongoing commitment to innovation, growth, and leadership in oncology care.

radiotherapy centre - hodling hands

Different Support Therapies During Your Cancer Treatment

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The most effective cancer treatments do not start and end in a radiotherapy centre but focus on ensuring that anyone who is diagnosed receives the physical and mental support they need to have the best chance of the best outcome.

Oncology specialists know more than anyone else that cancer treatment is inherently holistic in nature, and highly effective radiotherapy also needs to be combined with a wider, supportive approach that ensures that people know that they do not need to fight this alone.

Whilst this is important for its own sake, especially given how much cancer can affect people mentally, a complete support system has a considerable impact not just on mental well-being, but also on the effectiveness of many cancer treatments and their long-term outcomes.

According to some studies, chronic stress can cause cancers to advance, and conversely, support therapies have been linked to better clinical outcomes.

With that in mind here are some of the support options available during cancer treatment.

Psychological Support

From the moment of diagnosis, counselling is available, and can be organised in whichever way a person feels most comfortable with, and there often various types of talking therapies available based on what a person needs at the time.

Some people prefer a one-to-one therapy session where they can work through with a professional the often powerful and complex feelings that inevitably come with a diagnosis or over the course of treatment.

At the same time, other people prefer having family members or loved ones with them during support meetings, and all of this can be arranged in the best way possible to help the healing process.

Alternatively, it can also be undertaken in a group therapy setting, as it can often be incredibly helpful for someone to discuss their experiences with people who are going through the same types of experiences and can discuss ways in which they managed to work through.

Support Groups

Whilst structured therapy is available, there are also more informal support groups available that are set up for people to discuss their experiences outside of a therapeutic setting, which can sometimes be necessary to ensure people can open up.

It can also be a place where people going through treatment can share advice and discuss the everyday ways in which cancer can affect people, as well as make new friends and become part of a community at the same time.

As well as this, it can help to talk to someone who has undertaken the same or similar treatments and compare experiences, which can do a lot of help with the understandable fears that can arise when major treatments are suggested and planned.

Finally, it can be a place to regain confidence. Cancer can affect not only the relationships you have with other people but the one you have with yourself.

There are a lot of different groups, some of which specialise in a specific type of cancer, some are small enough to take place in someone’s house whilst others fill a function room. Some involve guest speakers and activities, whilst others are more informal and about discussing feelings.

As well as this, much like the treatment centre, a support group can be an excellent place to not only find other people but find other support services, such as massages, yoga, mindfulness meditation and other complementary therapies to discuss with your doctor.

Nutritional Support

Given that nutrition and diet can have a considerable effect on both mental well-being and physical health.

One of the main first steps of prehabilitation, the steps taken to get ready for treatment, as well as during and after treatment, doctors and the rest of the support team can provide advice and guidance about the small lifestyle, nutrition and dietary choices that can be made to help with recovery.

As with anything diet related, a small change that sticks is far more important than attempting an unrealistic plan and being unable to keep it consistently. Adding a few vegetables to existing meals, drinking less alcohol rather than quitting entirely and doing some exercise will all make huge differences.

The treatment team will explore a person’s individual circumstances and give sustainable advice, with explanations for how they can help mitigate the effects of treatment, with full nutritional information, monitoring of BMI and weight, as well as interviews during consultations.

Nutrition and physical activity do not just help with physical health but they can both improve mood and mental wellbeing, making them a vital part of treatment available to people that are undergoing cancer treatment.

radiotherapy centre - radiologist looking at the MRI image

World Cancer Day Highlights That Every Patient Is Unique

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To be told you have cancer is a mortifying experience and one nobody ever wants to have to deal with, but the good news is that treatments are advancing all the time and that the prognosis for most patients is far better than it used to be.

There are various reasons people tend to live longer after a diagnosis, including the quality of treatment, the development of new and more effective drugs and better screening to bring about early diagnosis.

However, another very important factor is the understanding that the right treatment for one patient might not be the best way forward for another. This is partly about the treatment schedule and methods, but also the personal aspect.

Treating every individual patient as unique is not just a matter of good service or dignity, but a necessary means of maximising the chances of each patient beating their cancer or, short of that, extending life by as much as possible. This is the approach we take at our radiotherapy centre.

World Cancer Day Campaign Is All About Unique People

The importance of seeing every patient in unique terms is to be the theme of this year’s World Cancer Day on February 4th. The title of the theme is ‘Unique by Unique’ and the campaign of awareness based on this philosophy will run until 2027.

Stating that “behind every diagnosis lies a unique human story – stories of grief, pain, healing, resilience, love and more,” the campaign notes that the best health outcomes take a holistic approach, which incorporates a wide range of needs.

A particular theme of the campaign is the notion that medics should “treat the person, not just the disease” as a means of people-centred care. It notes that cancer patients “don’t always feel heard, seen or understood.”

This highlights the fact that your journey when fighting cancer will be your own for a range of reasons. Some people may be stoic in the face of adversity, some may feel angry but determined to fight the disease. Others may find it puts extreme strain on their mental well-being and relationships and need some particular support.

As a result, the treatment you need will not just be what you get from a gamma knife or a linear accelerator. It will also be about helping you deal with the emotional side, the practical arrangements you may need to make to deal with changed life circumstances and the connections you may need with those who can help, such as support groups.

Giving Guidance

Patient support need not be just external, however. One of the issues is the confusion and lack of guidance and information some people face when navigating their way through health systems.

The exact problem may vary from country to country as the systems are different, with those seeking private care then encountering something new again, but by providing lots of information and helping patients know their rights, we can help. In doing this, patients really can know we are treating them and not just their cancer.

Of course, tailoring care is also about the treatment itself. Some people may have more radiotherapy than others. Some may have it combined with surgery or chemotherapy, depending on their own medical circumstances.

Why Personal Factors Make A Difference

Underpinning all of this will be other personal factors such as age, genetics and underlying health. How far the disease has progressed when you are diagnosed and how far it subsequently progresses are further factors in shaping treatment, while ongoing treatment decisions may be made by assessing how well patients respond to therapies given already.

A critical way in which this variation in treatment and the personalisation of care are brought together is in the way you will be given information and involved in making decisions about treatment.

This can work itself out in different ways. There are instances, especially with end-of-life situations, where a patient may decide not to undergo further treatment to minimise side-effects while making the most of the time they have left.

In other instances, some patients may be very willing to undergo a certain treatment that contains risk, or involves trials of a new drug. Above all, people will appreciate being kept in the loop and treated as individuals with specific medical and supplementary needs.

The big hope is that the three year campaign will help to make some changes in how cancer treatment is provided, with the whole process being more consensual, more informative, but also centred on the needs of every individual, recognising that they differ.

If you need cancer treatment, you are not just another patient. You are unique. That is why we will aim to fulfil the aims of the World Cancer Day campaign.