More investment is needed in radiotherapy to tackle the backlog in cancer care built up during the pandemic, an expert said, as he called for the treatment’s “PR problem” to be addressed.
A minority of people see radiotherapy as a cutting-edge treatment compared with targeted drugs or proton beam therapy, a survey by
The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) found.
Just 12% of people questioned thought radiotherapy should be an area prioritised for funding.
But ICR experts argue it is the “unsung hero of cancer treatments” and needs more investment.
Professor Kevin Harrington, head of radiotherapy and imaging at the ICR in London, said the treatment has “an absolutely crucial role to play during the pandemic”.