Thanks to funding from The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, the hospital has started treating patients on a new, state-of-the-art radiotherapy machine.
The Accuray Radixact Tomotherapy linear accelerator, or Radixact linac, offers improved image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT). IGRT is a type of radiotherapy where imaging is used to ensure the patient is positioned correctly and the tumour is being targeted as precisely as possible.
The machine incorporates a CT scanner which captures high-quality images over a larger treatment area on patients than other machines. These images provide the information that therapeutic radiographers need to view the position of the patient’s internal anatomy, helping to direct the radiotherapy more accurately.
The Radixact linac will also support radiotherapy research at The Royal Marsden, which could lead to shorter or fewer treatment sessions and more effective, personalised treatments for patients.
Introducing oART – the future of radiotherapy
The aim is to use the new Linac at The Royal Marsden to deliver an exciting technological advancement in the field of radiotherapy in the future, known as online adaptive radiotherapy (oART), which would enable faster and more precise treatment for patients. Although other NHS hospitals are using the Radixact linac, no other centre is using it in conjunction with oART.
Currently, conventional radiotherapy planning involves patients undergoing a planning CT scan of their anatomy, which is then used to create their treatment plan.
The clinicians then outline the area that needs to be treated, and add a safety margin of healthy tissue to allow for normal, day-to-day variations in the body. If there is a significant change in a patient’s anatomy, a new plan needs to be created.
Using oART, clinicians would be able to create a new, bespoke treatment plan every day, adapting to anatomical changes in real time, during one treatment session. Every time a patient comes for their treatment, they would be able to have a new treatment plan to account for even the smallest changes in their body or tumour, such as weight changes, the movement of the bladder or breathing.
The hope is this will also ultimately help reduce the number of visits a patient needs to make to hospital for further scans, lessening their anxiety and helping them return to their normal lives sooner.
“In the near future, new advances in radiotherapy technology hold great potential to make even more of a difference to the care we can offer patients.”
At the forefront of radiotherapy research
“The introduction of the Radixact linear accelerator is an exciting development for The Royal Marsden, enhancing the care we can provide and supporting research for the benefit of patients around the world,” says Sarah Helyer, Head of Radiotherapy at The Royal Marsden. “ We are hugely grateful to The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity for funding this equipment for the hospital.”
Irena Blasiak-Wal, Head of Treatment Planning at The Royal Marsden, Sutton, added: “Collaborative working between radiotherapy, physics and clinical oncology teams has been crucial to the successful implementation of the Radixact linac, and I am proud of our multidisciplinary team's expertise at The Royal Marsden in making this possible.
“In the near future, new advances in radiotherapy technology hold great potential to make even more of a difference to the care we can offer patients.”
Denice’s story
In October 2024, 57-year-old Denice from Dorking was one of the first patients at The Royal Marsden to be treated on the new Radixact linac.
Following a diagnosis of stage 1 womb cancer in June, Denice was referred to The Royal Marsden, where she had successful robotic surgery carried out by Consultant Gynaecological Oncology Surgeon Mr Owen Heath. She is now receiving radiotherapy on the Radixact linac, under the care of Dr Susan Lalondrelle, Consultant Clinical Oncologist.
"I felt quite honoured to be one of the first patients to be treated on this new machine,” says Denice. “Knowing that I’m being treated on the very best equipment feels reassuring. First, I had the robotic surgery and now this new state-of-the-art radiotherapy!
“I feel grateful and lucky to access these facilities. Everyone at The Royal Marsden is fantastic, they’re so supportive. I couldn’t ask to have a better team around me while I’m having my treatment.
“To everyone who has donated to the Charity and contributed towards equipment like this new radiotherapy machine, I just want to thank them so much. Having the latest equipment really does help, it makes a huge difference to us patients.”
Your support helps improve treatment and drive pioneering research
Thanks to the generous supporters of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, we are able to fund the latest equipment which helps transform the lives of cancer patients, now and in the future.
Find out more about ways you can support us today.