SGRT uses highly accurate 3D camera technology, placed around the treatment room, to track a patient's body surface during radiotherapy, using real-time surface imaging to ensure patients are positioned correctly for treatment. MapRT utlises camera technology to create a full-body 3D model to support highly precise radiotherapy planning, so clinicians can see how the patient’s body will interact with the radiotherapy machine.

For patients like 50-year-old Joanna James, from Ilkley, who received the shocking news she had a brain tumour whilst on holiday last year, this new technology is a game changer.

Joanna, a jewellery sales manager, suddenly lost the ability to speak and was taken straight to a local hospital, where CT and MRI scans revealed the devastating news. Two weeks later, Joanna had urgent surgery at Leeds General Infirmary and then began six weeks of intensive radiotherapy treatment at Leeds Cancer Centre.

For every session, Joanna needed to wear a full-face immobilisation mask to ensure she remained perfectly still so that the radiation could be delivered safely and accurately.

On the third day of her treatment, Joanna experienced a panic attack while wearing the full-face mask during her radiotherapy session, she said:

“The mask was one of the hardest parts of treatment. It can be a really frightening experience, and I found the mask very claustrophobic. It caused me a huge amount of anxiety going in every day for treatment. I found it overwhelming to not be able to see much through the mask, but I was grateful to have the staff there to talk me through the process each day.

“Having an open face mask – or no mask at all - would have changed the whole experience for me, and I’m sure for many patients going through a similar experience.”

Peter Enever, Head of Radiotherapy at Leeds Cancer Centre, tells us more about the difference this will make:

“Radiotherapy is a really effective form of cancer treatment, but planning is very complex and, for some patients, it can be a distressing experience. We know that the use of masks and the need for permanent tattooing can heighten anxiety, especially for patients like Joanna who experience claustrophobia or might find permanent skin markings upsetting. 

“We’re very lucky to already have SGRT on some of our machines thanks to charity funding but now we’d like to benefit even more patients. By bringing SGRT and MapRT technology into our department, we can offer kinder and more dignified radiotherapy treatment and help to reduce trauma for some of our most vulnerable patients.  It will also enable more accurate radiotherapy planning and delivery, which increases efficiency and safety for our patients.”

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