What is your experience of receiving information about radiotherapy?

This project will explore how information about radiotherapy can be made more inclusive, personal and effective.

Radiotherapy is an important part of cancer treatment, used by about half of people diagnosed with cancer. Many people feel anxious or unsure about what radiotherapy involves. Common worries include fears about radiation, possible side effects, and not knowing what to expect. These worries can make people feel unprepared and, at times, lead to missed appointments or difficulty completing treatment.

Before starting radiotherapy, patients usually receive information through leaflets, videos, or conversations with staff. However, these are often given at different times and by different professionals. Most hospitals use the same information for everyone, regardless of people’s background, or preferred way of learning. This “one-size-fits-all” approach doesn’t always work. Some people, such as those who speak different languages or learn in different ways, might find it confusing or overwhelming.

Tailoring information so that it is relevant, clear and meaningful for each person, can help reduce anxiety and build confidence. However, there is very little practical guidance on how to do this well, or which approaches work best for different people and communities.

How you can get involved

We would like people with lived experience of cancer and radiotherapy to share their experiences in the below survey about the information they received,

• Tell us what worked well, what did not work well and why?
• What type of information would have helped you most?
• What are the best ways and timing to deliver this information?

If you would like to get involved in future discussion groups or interviews to explore this subject in more depth please sign up to the 'Stay Informed' button on the right hand side of this page.