Welcome to RTUK Talks resources – recordings and links from our series of webinars for the radiotherapy workforce.
Our theme for 2025 is Ambassadors’ Choice.
This series has been developed for the radiotherapy workforce, and welcomes patients and professionals from the wider oncology community.
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.
Further resources
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.
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.
Further resources
Mouth Cancer Foundation | Helpline: 01924 950 950
Mouth Cancer Foundation Support Group
Understanding the late effects of cancer treatment | Macmillan Cancer Support
Pelvic Radiation Disease Association (prda.org.uk)
Prostate Cancer UK | Prostate Cancer UK
Life after treatment | Breast Cancer Now
Long term side effects of radiotherapy | Cancer treatment | Cancer Research UK
late effects | Mouth Cancer Foundation
Life after Cancer | In-person and online post cancer support | UK (life-aftercancer.co.uk)
Jean Fisher – Lead facilitator in Advanced Communication Skills Training and experienced palliative care nurse – talks about 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 also welcomed Debbie Donnison, who shared 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 offered many practical insights around mirroring language, acknowledging patient expertise and the mental strain of appointments.
Further resources
Dying for Beginners | Dr Kathryn Mannix (youtube.com)
Our April RTUK Talk is titled Sexual Wellbeing and Cancer.
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.
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.
Access all of the links included in the webinar can be viewed here
Download a certificate of attendance here
For our fifth and final RTUK Talks of 2023 we welcomed Erik Geerlof of Elekta for a fascinating talk on MR-Guided Radiotherapy. The talk yielded lots of great sessions and ended the series on a real high note. We look forward to returning in 2024 when we will be focusing on patient experience.
Useful links
Download your certificate of attendance here
Register your support for our Christmas Appeal by contacting us here
For the Fourth webinar in our series we were honoured to welcome Dr Luca Cozzi – Clinical Research Scientist with the Radiotherapy and Radiosurgery department at Humanitas research hospital and cancer center, in Rozzano: Adjunct Professor in Medical Physics at Humanitas University, also in Rozzano; and Clinical Physics Innovations Director for the Medical Affairs Division of Varian Medical Systems International AG, in Steinhausen, Switzerland
Useful links
Help us make our webinars work for you! Complete a short feedback survey here
Make your voice heard and sign our petition for the Secretary of State here
Download your certificate of attendance here
For the third webinar in our series we were honoured to welcome Naman Julka-Anderson, SoR Therapeutic Radiographer of the Year, talking about his ongoing research into radiation induced skin reactions and what this looks like in daily practice.
Useful links
Follow the RadChat podcast here
Help us make our webinars work for you! Complete a short feedback survey here
Join our summer challenge #Miles4Radiotherapy here
Make your voice heard and sign our petition for the Secretary of State here
Download your certificate of attendance here
For the second webinar in our series we were very excited to be joined by CEO of Leo Cancer Care – Stephen Towe, presenting on the innovative developments in upright patient positioning and radiotherapy.
Useful links
Sign up for the next RT:UK Talks with Naman Julka-Anderson here
Help us make our webinars work for you! Complete a short feedback survey here
Join our summer challenge #Miles4Radiotherapy here
Make your voice heard and sign our petition for the Secretary of State here
Download your certificate of attendance here
To kick off the series we had the inspirational Professor Pat Price – internationally renowned clinical oncologist, co-founder of the Catch Up With Cancer campaign and Chair of Radiotherapy UK.
Professor Price shared her expert insights into developments in radiotherapy practice and the need for a national radiotherapy plan to ensure all cancer patients throughout the UK have equal access to innovative radiotherapy advances.
Useful links
Help us make our webinars work for you! Complete a short feedback survey here
Join our summer challenge #Miles4Radiotherapy here
Make your voice heard and sign our petition for the Secretary of State here
Download your certificate of attendance here
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