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Welcome to RTUK Talks!
This year our brilliant speakers will take us deep into the theme of enhancing patient experience with free online webinars.
The series has been designed to bring thought-provoking ideas and insights straight to the radiotherapy workforce. Patients and the wider radiotherapy and oncology community are also very welcome to attend.
We hope to see you there. Sponsored with thanks to AstraZeneca.
Our first RTUK Talk of 2025 will welcome Dr Char Goodwin, Autistic Research Fellow at the University of Exeter.
Dr Goodwin will be presenting on: the reality of cancer treatment for autistic patients; learnings from the Autistic Experiences of Breast Cancer research project that she leads, and insights into how the radiotherapy workforce can support patients facing additional barriers during treatment. Dr Goodwin will also provide insight from her own experience of breast cancer.
Bio: Dr Char Goodwin PhD is a Research Fellow at the University of Exeter and the lead-researcher on the Breast Cancer Now funded project: Autistic Experiences of Breast Cancer.
Char is autistic and has lived experience of breast cancer and her research focuses on improving cancer care for autistic people by exploring and listening to the lived experience of autistic people to determine the cumulative effect of healthcare barriers that are experienced throughout diagnosis and treatment for cancer.
For the next RTUK Talks we welcome Samantha Bostock, Macmillan Radiotherapy Late Effects Lead Radiographer. Samantha will talk about how she approaches support and advice, and how a late effects service must address more than just the effect itself.
Samantha qualified as a therapeutic radiographer in 1995 and worked on the treatment floor before becoming an on-treatment review radiographer. She set up the radiographer-led review service and along with gaining an MSc, became a non-medical prescriber. Her special interests have included management of acute radiotherapy skin reactions.
Today, Samantha works as a late effects radiographer at Gloucestershire Hospitals. This service works with the regional South West Radiotherapy Late Effects Services to provide specialist, peer-reviewed support, and management of radiotherapy late effects. The role includes clinical work with people living with late effects – addressing what matters to them and reducing the impact their symptoms have on quality of life and ability to function, data collection and education of healthcare professionals and patients. The role is varied and involves working closely with a wide range of healthcare professionals in many specialties, building relationships and pathways.
Samantha’s work has been published in a variety of journals and presented at conferences both nationally and internationally. She enjoys collaborating with teams within and outside of the radiotherapy world to raise the profile of late effects and also of therapeutic radiographers.
We will also welcome Karen Liesching-Schroder, who was diagnosed with tongue cancer in her early forties and is now living with the late effects of her treatment. Through her own health struggles she has become an enthusiastic and positive advocate for others in the same situation. Karen is a Patient Ambassador for the Mouth Cancer Foundation and volunteer in Radiotherapy UK’s patient engagement and review work. In addition, she supports patients and family members with two different types of support; co-hosts a 2 hour weekly zoom support with Jocelyn Harding, Dental Hygienist and runs a private Facebook support group; both support people with head and neck cancer and their family members in different ways with the many side and late effects. Karen works with professionals across the UK regarding issues with late effects of head and neck cancer and is currently trying to get a late effects clinic set up at her local hospital.
Karen says: “I am a very positive person with a speech impaired voice, but it doesn’t stop me advocating for patients like me.”
Join Jean Fisher – Lead facilitator in Advanced Communication Skills Training and experienced palliative care nurse – as we explore how even a five-minute conversation can be a game changer for people with cancer. Jean shares her years of experience in spotting when people want to talk and what about, offers some surprising insights into what matters most when we are approaching death and explores how the workforce can be of service when it comes to important conversations. Jean works with senior clinicians, helping them to deepen their communication skills.
We’ll also be welcoming Debbie Donnison, who will share her own experience of a Stage 4 diagnosis and her thoughts on meaningful conversations, our reluctance to talk about death and advanced care, and the wider patient perspective. Debbie will offer practical insights around mirroring language, acknowledging patient expertise and the mental strain of appointments.
We will be joined by three brilliant speakers: Holly Masters, Dr Lisa Ashmore and Lorraine Grover. Register now for this free, online webinar for the radiotherapy workforce. Patients and the wider oncology community are also welcome.
Holly Masters was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2021 at the age of 23. She is an accomplished actor and patient advocate, devoting her time to working with the NHS as co-chair of the East of England Cancer Alliances patient partnership group; and as a patient voice with the National Cancer Programme.
Dr Lisa Ashmore is a senior lecturer in social sciences at Lancaster Medical School, associate dean for engagement in the Faculty of Health and Medicine and a clinical academic therapeutic radiographer based at the Rosemere Cancer Centre. Her current research focuses on understanding how radiotherapy impacts on the sense of sexual self and on social and personal lives, improving patient experiences of living with the social and personal impacts of radiotherapy, and looking at developing key competencies and guidance on talking about sexual wellbeing for practitioners working in radiotherapy.
Lorraine Grover is a psychosexual nurse specialist, registered general nurse and qualified as a sex therapist. She is also a trustee and treasurer of the Sexual Advice Association and specialist advisor to Macmillan Cancer Support and Prostate Cancer UK.
AstraZeneca has provided financial sponsorship towards this independent Programme and has had no involvement in its creation or organisation.
Watch the presentation here
Jo McNamara, award-winning Therapeutic Radiographer and co-host of oncology podcast Rad Chat, kicks off our RTUK Talks series 2024.
In this one-hour session, the senior oncology lecturer explores the do’s and don’ts of preparing patients for treatment and life afterwards: and opens up the critical conversation needed around professionals caring for themselves in testing times.
Jo will also share a special Rad Chat update about the upcoming Oncology Professional Care conference. RTUK director, Sarah Quinlan, will introduce Jo and share news from the wider work of the charity.
Watch the presentation here
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