Closing date for Arthur Kay Radiotherapy Award

In April 2009, the Society set up the annual Arthur Kay Radiotherapy Award to support an appropriately qualified and experienced therapeutic radiographer, or small team of SoR members, who would like to travel to learn innovative techniques and technologies in their field at cutting edge cancer institutions around the world.

Following receipt of a generous donation, 1500-word applications to the value of £5000 will be considered for the fund, although a maximum of £10,000 may be available in exceptional circumstances.

Employer support to enable this is an essential part of any application.

Successful applicants and institutions must be willing to demonstrate dissemination of new techniques and technologies to other radiotherapy units in the UK.

They are also expected to write an article about their experience for publication in Synergy: Imaging and Therapy Practice and give an address at the College’s Annual Radiotherapy Conference.

The closing date for 2012 will be 30 March.

Kate Burton, an AHP consultant radiographer from Cambridge who specialises in neuro-oncology, was the first recipient of the award. 

Keen to learn about the theory and practice of proton and heavy ion therapy, Kate travelled to Switzerland in October 2010 to attend a five-day ESTRO teaching course in Zurich, followed by a few days observing clinical practice at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Villigen, a busy proton facility.

Below, Kate describes her Swiss experience as “interesting, exciting, thought-provoking and hard work”.

Q&A with Kate Burton

What prompted you to apply for the award?
The Arthur Kay Radiotherapy Award offered me an opportunity to undertake a funded study tour abroad that would provide me with opportunities to learn about both the theory and practice of proton and heavy ion therapy. This was a subject in which I had already undertaken self-directed study and wished to gain a deeper understanding of.

Why did you want to further your study in particle therapy?
In my role as a practitioner specialising in neuro-oncology, I had been involved with a number of patients who had been referred for proton therapy abroad and felt that it would be extremely useful to gain a more in-depth knowledge on the subject. I believed that increasing my understanding of the theory behind the physics and planning of particle therapy and observing treatment delivery in practice would allow me to provide greater support and information for patients.

Additionally I was aware that, although currently no provision for protons was available in the UK, there was increasing pressure on the Government to fund a UK installation and, if this was to succeed, it was essential that UK radiographers were involved in any development and implementation.

There would be a need to address training and development needs of all radiographers both at pre- and post-registration to ensure particle therapy and I felt the learning I gained during the trip would allow me to work with the CoR on this issue.

How did you feel when you’d heard you had won the award?
I was very pleased when I heard I’d won the award and my study tour had been fully funded. However, I also realised that there would be significant work involved in organising, undertaking and, particularly, in disseminating my experiences and the knowledge I’d gained.

What did winning involve? 
In order to win the award, I had to be a member of the Society of Radiographers, hold current HPC registration and work as a therapeutic radiographer in an NHS department. I had to complete an application form that detailed my proposed study tour and how the trip may benefit me, my department and other departments nationally. I also had to provide evidence of support from my department and a full breakdown of anticipated expenditure.

On winning the award, I received feedback from the panel which included additional purpose and outcome objectives, specifically looking at whether the proton department at Villigen could be used as a model within the NHS. I was responsible for all the booking and organisation of the trip and required to keep a full record of my trip and accounts.

When did you go to Switzerland?
I went in October 2010, attending the ESTRO teaching course in Zurich for the first week and working at the proton facility in Villigen for the second.

How would you describe your time in Switzerland?
Interesting, exciting, thought-provoking and hard work.

The ESTRO teaching course was intensive and covered the theory of particle therapy in great depth. Some of the physics of accelerator and beam production went well beyond my comfort zone and involved a lot of concentration to keep up with the class. I found most interesting the lectures on site specific management using particle therapy, particularly the obvious differences between practice in Europe and the USA.

My time at PSI, Villigen was a complete contrast to sitting in the lecture theatre listening. The facility is located within a physics research institution and has few similarities to an NHS hospital. My initial impression was fear and I can only imagine that the patients must wonder what will happen to them.

However I was made very welcome by everyone and encouraged to participate in all aspects of the treatment process. I attended MDTs and learnt about patient selection, I observed treatment plan production and acted as a team member in treatment delivery. I was interested to see the differences in patient support and care; the majority of patients came from outside Switzerland and difficulties in translating information was obvious.

What were the key lessons you learnt out there?

• The principles of particle beam production, how to produce a useful treatment beam and the way to direct the beams to produce a safe and accurate treatment plan;
• The different methods of particle beam production and treatment delivery, why you may opt for a passive scattering or an active scanning system and the pros and cons for each option;
• The importance of choosing your beam direction – air gaps or changes in shape have a far greater impact on dose delivery than when using photons;
• Differences in practice between different parts of the world: in the USA, particle therapy is predominantly used in prostate cancer (financially attractive), but in Europe the focus is skull based lesions and paediatrics;
• The lack of evidence and published outcomes for particle therapy and the need to address this in the future.

How has your learning been translated into your own workplace?
Although we do not have particle therapy in my department – and it is unlikely to be introduced in the future – the knowledge I’ve gained has helped me to inform and counsel patients who are being referred abroad for this treatment.

I have also run teaching sessions for the radiographers and students to raise their awareness of proton therapy and disseminate my learning.

How much nearer is the UK now to making available a particle therapy facility?
Unfortunately there is still no definite decision regarding the future of protons in the UK, although hopefully it will be announced soon. A number of departments have been asked to produce a plan for a facility and there is still keen interest for this to be given the go ahead by both professionals and patient groups. The current situation of patients having to go abroad is not ideal and at least one facility would be an extremely positive step.

Have you started to develop a national curriculum for radiographers, using the knowledge and insight you gained?
Not yet. I’m waiting to hear from the College about how it wishes to proceed with developing this and I’m sure if a proton facility in the UK is funded this will become a priority. One of the things I learnt was that although there are many similarities between photon and particle therapy, it is also essential to recognise, understand and deal with the differences.

Part of the award is to disseminate your learning to other institutions – how many have you visited and how was your learning received by others?
I haven’t been invited to visit other radiotherapy departments yet and I think this is probably because proton therapy is highly specialised and most departments will not have a facility.

I was asked to take part in an online journal club for Sheffield Hallam University debating the use of proton therapy in lung tumours and hopefully this helped to generate interest in the subject

How supportive was your employer throughout the whole process, both before winning and afterwards?
Very supportive, they provided a 10% contribution towards the total cost and provided me with study time. My medical colleagues also covered my clinical work which allowed me to undertake the study tour.

What opportunities, both personal and professional, have opened up as a result of your win?
The Arthur Kay Radiotherapy Award provided me with the opportunity to take time away from my normal work and gain an in-depth knowledge into a subject of interest. It definitely provided me with a personal opportunity to grow in self confidence and belief.

On a professional level, I have been invited to join the Society and College of Radiographers’ Radiotherapy Advisory Group and, through this, hope to influence the growth and development of particle therapy in the UK.

Did you enjoy giving an address at the College’s Annual Radiotherapy Conference?
I always find standing up and speaking in front of others challenging, so I couldn’t claim to ‘enjoy’ it, but I did find it rewarding as it was an opportunity to tell others about my experience and also how much I’d learnt. It was great that I had lots of questions and comments at the end and also lots of people came to discuss my talk in the tea break. On the whole, it was a positive experience.

What advice/encouragement would you have for anyone thinking of applying for the award?
I’d advise anyone to apply if they have a well-developed and though-out plan. Funding opportunities for study are becoming more difficult and, providing you are able to clearly lay out the purpose and advantages of your proposed study tour, this is an ideal way to get it financed.

Click here for more details on the award and how to apply.