Dr Hannah Chantler and Katie Hutchinson talk to us about their roles in planning radiotherapy treatment and how this fits into the patient pathway. Hannah is our Head of Radiotherapy Planning, working closely with leaders in the Radiotherapy Department at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, UK, and guiding the planning team, whilst Katie is one of our leaders in dosimetry. They explain the importance of radiotherapy planning right from the beginning of the patient pathway, and highlight the interesting ways that they found out about radiotherapy as a career option.

In this episode, three of Addenbrooke's Hospital's therapeutic radiographers, Daniel Driver, Cristina Ferreira and Poppy Howe, discuss their roles and how they are important to patients coming in for radiotherapy. Therapeutic radiographers are specialists trained specifically in radiotherapy planning and delivery. We are so lucky to be able to pin down three of Addenbrooke's finest who all work together, but in different ways, to ensure the safe and accurate delivery of radiotherapy treatment.

Daniel is one of our Radiotherapy Treatment Floor Radiographers, meaning that he is someone who patients will see daily for radiotherapy. Daniel also looks after our student radiographers from the University of Suffolk, UK, offering support and guidance throughout their training.

Cristina is our Head of Technical Operations in Radiotherapy, meaning that she is in charge of implementing new techniques into the Addenbrooke's Radiotherapy Department and provides leadership across the Department for our radiographers.

Poppy is our Advanced Practitioner for Breast Radiotherapy, and her work focuses on breast cancer treatment. She is a pivotal person for patients with breast cancer as she helps in the planning, reviewing and supportive care of this patient group whilst they are undergoing radiotherapy and afterwards.

In this two-part episode, podcast host Rachael Webster talks with two of our amazing patient representatives, Hilary and Neil. Hilary and Neil have both worked in radiotherapy departments in years gone by, in radiotherapy physics and as an oncologist respectively. They share their experiences of what radiotherapy has been like from the 1970s to the present day, including the old techniques and how technology has been pivotal in the advancement of radiotherapy planning. They also share what it was like to come back to radiotherapy for treatment as patients many years later, and how they felt during this time. It is a privilege for us to have them on our podcast!

In this two-part episode, podcast host Rachael Webster talks with two of our amazing patient representatives, Hilary and Neil. Hilary and Neil have both worked in radiotherapy departments in years gone by, in radiotherapy physics and as an oncologist respectively. They share their experiences of what radiotherapy has been like from the 1970s to the present day, including the old techniques and how technology has been pivotal in the advancement of radiotherapy planning. They also share what it was like to come back to radiotherapy for treatment as patients many years later, and how they felt during this time. It is a privilege for us to have them on our podcast!

Podcast host Rachael Webster is joined by Diana Domingues to introduce the exciting world of radiotherapy and answer the most common question that we hear from our patients: "What is radiotherapy?". Rachael and Diana also explain how radiotherapy works and address some of the common misconceptions. We hope this episode helps to alleviate some of the anxieties that surround radiotherapy and gives you a broader knowledge about this treatment.

Diana is a Senior Therapeutic Radiographer in the Radiotherapy Department at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, UK. She has been qualified since 2011 and has recently completed her MSc in Radiotherapy Practice with her dissertation focusing on the impact of metabolic imaging in head and neck cancer treatment.

For more information about radiotherapy treatment, please visit the Cancer Research UK website at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancer-in-general/treatment/radiotherapy/about

Welcome to our “All about radiotherapy” series, hosted by Rachael Webster. In this introductory episode, Rachael gives us an overview of the Cancer Research UK Radiation Research Network, known as CRUK RadNet, and introduces CRUK RadNet Cambridge's first patient and public involvement project which has led to the creation of this podcast series.

Rachael is a Senior Therapeutic Radiographer and CRUK Translational Research Radiographer at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, UK. She has been qualified for seven years, working at multiple centres across the UK, and joined CRUK RadNet Cambridge two years ago. She has recently completed her MSc in Radiotherapy and Oncology in Practice, with her dissertation focusing on respiratory motion management for stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy to renal cell carcinoma. She also works closely with the Society and College of Radiographers on improving patient safety and on inclusive practice for transgender, non-binary and intersex people when enquiring about pregnancy status. Rachael additionally works with charities such as Live Through This as an advocate for LGBTIQ+ people.

In this special episode of our podcast, we bring you three short talks about patient involvement in lung cancer clinical trials from our annual ‘Experimental Cancer Medicine Demystified’ event that was held earlier this year.

In the first talk, Dr Huiqi Yang gives an overview of some of the lung cancer clinical trials that are being conducted right now in Cambridge in the UK. Elizabeth Blake will then speak about some of the clinical trials that she works on and how she supports patients going through them. You’ll next hear from Jacek Obuchowicz about his personal experiences of being diagnosed with lung cancer and deciding to take part in a clinical trial. To wrap up, Katie Mills leads a Q&A session where the speakers answer questions that were submitted by members of the public.

If you have a question that you would like us to answer in a future podcast episode, or if you have ideas for topics that you would like us to discuss in a future series, please let us know by visiting our website: www.crukcambridgecentre.org.uk/podcast.

Dr Huiqi Yang is a Consultant in Medical Oncology at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and Senior Research Lead for Lung Cancer Clinical Trials within the Cambridge Cancer Trials Centre.

Elizabeth Blake is a Clinical Trials Research Nurse for Lung Cancers at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Jacek Obuchowicz was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2020. He had a left lower lobectomy at Royal Papworth Hospital followed by adjuvant chemotherapy at Addenbrooke’s Hospital. Jacek then consented to the CANOPY A clinical trial, an interventional clinical trial. He is currently in the follow-up period of the study having had a year on treatment.

Katie Mills was a Programme Manager at the Cambridge Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre.

In this special episode of our podcast, we bring you a series of four short talks about patient and public involvement in research from our annual ‘Experimental Cancer Medicine Demystified’ event that was held earlier this year.

In the first talk, Jean Mullin gives an overview of the Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Group at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre and the Cambridge Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre. Liz Chipchase then shares her personal reflections on being involved in PPI work in Cambridge. You’ll next hear from Dr Cathal McCague about his research into using artificial intelligence in ovarian cancer care. Neil Stutchbury then reveals how patients and the public helped to shape Cathal’s research project. To wrap up, Katie Mills leads a Q&A session where the speakers answer questions that were submitted by members of the public.

If you have a question that you would like us to answer in a future podcast episode, or if you have ideas for topics that you would like us to discuss in a future series, please let us know by visiting our website: www.crukcambridgecentre.org.uk/podcast.

Jean Mullin is the Lead CRUK Research Nurse at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Patient and Public Involvement Co-Lead at the Cambridge Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre, Co-Director of the CRUK Cambridge Centre’s Nursing and Allied Healthcare Professionals Programme, and Deputy Operations Manager for Clinical Operations at the Cambridge Cancer Trials Centre.

Liz Chipchase’s oesophageal cancer was diagnosed at an early stage through her involvement in the Cytosponge clinical trial. As a result, her cancer was treated at Addenbrooke’s Clinical Research Centre using relatively simple endoscopic techniques. She joined the PPI Group at the Cambridge Experimental Cancer Medical Centre and has a strong interest in the development of new techniques for early diagnosis of cancer.

Dr Cathal McCague is a Welcome Trust Research Associate and PhD student at the University of Cambridge, and an Honorary Radiology Registrar at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Neil Stutchbury has been a patient representative on the Cambridge Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre PPI Group for four years. He was successfully treated for bladder cancer at Addenbrooke’s Hospital and now enjoys the role of patient advocate. He is also Lead Governor at Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH), a member of the CUH PPI panel, and a member of the CUH Cancer Patient Partnership Group.

Katie Mills was a Programme Manager at the Cambridge Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre.

Dr Hugo Ford, Elaine Chapman and Professor Jean Abraham talk about the progress of the Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital, what will be integrated into the new building, and how it will impact both the researchers and clinicians who will work there and the patients who will be treated in the new hospital.

Hugo is a Consultant Medical Oncologist and the Director of Cancer Services at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, UK.

Elaine is Lead Advisory Nurse and Co-production Lead for Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK.

Jean is Director of the Precision Breast Cancer Institute at the University of Cambridge, UK, Academic Honorary Consultant in Medical Oncology and Professor of Precision Breast Cancer Medicine in the Department of Oncology at the University of Cambridge, UK, co-leader of the CRUK Cambridge Centre’s Breast Cancer Programme, and co-leader of the Integrated Cancer Medicine Programme.

Dr Sarah Welsh and Mr Tom Mitchell talk about their translational research and how it has helped to determine cancer genetics in renal cancer.

Sarah is a Clinical Consultant in the Department of Oncology at the University of Cambridge, UK, specialising in urological malignancies.

Tom is a Clinician Scientist Fellow at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK, specialising in understanding how kidney tumours initiate, evolve, and evade treatment. He is also a Consultant Urologist at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, UK.