Pioneering Cancer Treatment Comes To Berkshire

Sarah Rodi spoke to the experts who are transforming the landscape for advanced cancer care in the UK

- Sarah Rodi

In August this year, the Rutherford Cancer Centre Thames Valley announced the opening of its new proton beam therapy suite, to meet growing demand for the pioneering treatment.

The Centre in Reading is the first such facility in South East England and will play a crucial role in advancing cancer care in the region.

The Centre has been operational since last year, providing conventional cancer treatments, but in August, the centre began treating its first patients with proton beams.

Proton beam therapy is a type of radiotherapy that delivers heavily charged protons in a more targeted manner to reduce damage to peripheral tissue and organs. “Its main advantage is that its accuracy means it can help reduce long-term side effects. The collateral damage is much less,” says Professor Karol Sikora, Chief Medical Officer of Rutherford Health plc, which operates the Rutherford Cancer Centres. “Proton beam therapy uses high-energy proton beams (radiation) to the precise area needing treatment, but we can determine where the beam stops. So, for example, if there is a tumour in the centre of the lung, we can target just that, accurately, and prevent the risk of radiation reaching surrounding healthy tissue.

“UK cancer care has made major strides over the past year thanks to a complementary mix of private and public facilities, but rising demand for precision radiotherapy means that there is still some way to go. Based on treatment rates in other advanced European countries, the UK may need approximately 18 proton beam therapy facilities in the years to come.

“Unfortunately, the NHS is very restrictive with this treatment. The NHS plan calls for children to have proton beam therapy as most children’s cancer is curable, so why should they live with the side effects of radiotherapy? They use the therapy for those under 25 and for limited types of cancer.