Raising awareness
of the benefits
of radiotherapy
Radiotherapy is undervalued and needs greater investment, according to our new published report. Entitled Radiotherapy: seizing the opportunity in cancer care, the white paper recommends a five-point plan to boost uptake of radiotherapy and calls on all stakeholders – governments and policymakers, healthcare professionals, patients and professional societies, along with national and international research funds – to become ‘radiotherapy ambassadors’ to help raise awareness of the benefits of radiotherapy and secure its valuable position in comprehensive, optimal cancer care.
The report’s authors cite shortages of high-quality equipment, variations in training, insufficient integration of radiotherapy into treatment plans, lack of investment in research, lack of general understanding of radiotherapy as a cancer treatment and misconceptions regarding the safety of radiotherapy among the important factors contributing to radiotherapy’s poor image and underuse.
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The White Paper has been endorsed by:
A few facts about radiotherapy
SAVES LIVES
IMPROVES QUALITY OF LIFE
ONE MILLION
Policy Forum
Radiation oncology is an important element of cancer care. Research has demonstrated the significant gap between the current numbers of cancer patients opting for radiation therapy and the optimum. There is a need to engage with the public and policymakers to raise the profile of radiotherapy, which is why the Marie Curie Legacy Campaign was established. The new white paper has identified what needs to be done, and a multi-stakeholder approach is now crucial to identify potential barriers to implementing the required policy change.
The ESTRO Vision – enhancing the need to work together to achieve optimal care – calls on all stakeholders to help position radiotherapy appropriately within cancer policies and models of care, for the benefit of cancer patients today and tomorrow.
On behalf of the radiotherapy community, the Marie Curie Legacy Campaign will host a policy forum to present a five-point plan to help close the gap in availability and utilisation of radiotherapy across Europe, and outline activities underpinning the ESTRO vision.
This event will kindly be hosted by Lieve Wierinck MEP on
31st of January 2019 at the European Parliament in:
The aim of the Policy Forum is to channel awareness of the advocacy messages from the white paper towards decision-makers and empower them to make informed health policy decisions.
Programme
Monday January 31, 2019
Altiero Spinelli building, Room ASP 5G1
| 17.00 - 17.05 Welcome/Introduction |
| Radiotherapy key component of sustainable cancer care /current gaps. |
| 17.05 - 17.15 What is radiotherapy and where is it going? An introduction |
| Basic introduction to what radiotherapy is, highlighting the Marie Curie Legacy factsheet. |
| 17.15 - 17.35 'Patient story': Experience of RT |
| A shared story: initial misconceptions, minimal side effects and life after RT. |
| 17.35 - 17.55 Joint presentation |
| Seizing the opportunity of radiotherapy: What gaps need to be filled? |
| 17.55 - 18.30 Panel discussion |
| How can different stakeholders work together to address current gaps in access to radiotherapy across Europe? |
| 18.30 - 18.40 Preview: Animation to be launched at World Cancer Day |
| Preview: Animation to be launched at World Cancer Day. |
| 18.40 - 18.45 Closing remarks |
| Closing remarks |
| 18:45 - 18:50 Pledge your support |
| Pledge your support – pledge board - Group photo with all supporters |
| 18.50 - 19.30 Reception |
| A networking reception is offered at the end of the event. |
| 19:30 Closing |
| Closing Event |
Event Location
Good to know:
We recommend you to use public transportation.
Getting there:
Train
Brussels-Luxembourg serves the European Parliament - Belgian Railways
Bus
Lines 22, 27, 34, 38, 64, 80 and 95 all stop at the European Parliament. Lines 12 and 21 also connect to Brussels Airport.
Metro
The nearest stops are Maelbeek and Schuman on lines 1 and 5, and Trone on lines 2 and 6 - Public transport in Brussels
Car parking
Individual visitors to the European Parliament in Brussels can now leave their car in the car park. Parking is free of charge but must be booked at least one working day in advance of a visit. The car park is only open on working days.
Our latest tweets
There is a large gap between actual and optimal utilisation of radiotherapy, with huge variation across Europe. Many patients do not benefit from optimal treatment because they are not offered radiotherapy as part of their care. #RadiotherapySavesLives bit.ly/MC-Legacy pic.twitter.com/2McowHP2ar
