In collaboration with PRDA, Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust have produced an important and revealing report about the difficulties people face in accessing support and services for Pelvic Radiation Disease (PRD).
Read the full report:
As the report was written in collaboration with Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, it focuses on people who have had treatment for Cervical Cancer, but the recommendations cover people who have received pelvic radiotherapy for any cancer.
The recommendations identified in the report, which have the full support of the PRDA include:
- All patients finishing radiotherapy treatment are provided with a Treatment Summary, which is also shared with their GP, including details of their treatment, potential late effects, and where to access appropriate care and support should they need it.
- Centres of excellence for PRD (late effects clinics) to be established to support diagnosis and referral for patients, in addition to building the specialism through:
- developing training across the workforce
- trialling new treatments
- contributing to the knowledge base
- providing a central resource hub for clinicians.
- NICE guidelines on the diagnosis and management of PRD to be developed, including follow up pathways for identification and treatment of symptoms following radiotherapy.
- A tariff for the late effects of cancer treatment to be developed within the NHS to fund much needed clinics and services.
- New research to be conducted to assess current understanding of PRD among professionals across primary and secondary care, in addition to long range studies looking at the experience of patients.
- Professional bodies and societies to identify opportunities where teaching about toxicity following radiotherapy can be included in medical training, especially for primary practice and gastroenterology where patients may present with complex symptoms.