Hospital patients trial shorter radiotherapy treatments

Patients in Shropshire are taking part in a new study to see if shorter radiotherapy treatments can improve quality of life.

The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) is involved in the trial. It focuses on patients with advanced lung cancer. So far, nine local patients have been recruited.

Standard treatment usually involves 12 daily sessions over 16 days. The ‘Shortened High-dose Palliative Radiotherapy for Lung Cancer’ (SHiP-Rt) study is testing a different approach. It uses higher doses delivered in just six treatments every other day.

The goal is to reduce hospital visits and free up radiotherapy slots for other patients. Experts hope this will cut NHS costs without increasing side effects.

Christopher Clarke, 88, from Telford, joined the study after a Stage 3b lung cancer diagnosis. He completed six sessions. Last month, he was told his tumour had reduced by two-thirds. No further treatment is needed for now.

Mr Clarke said: “If I hadn’t taken part in this trial, radiotherapy would have been five days a week and I didn’t want my daughter and son-in-law having to take me to Royal Shrewsbury Hospital that much.”

He added: “I think I am very lucky to receive this treatment. I can’t fault it – it was all very rapid. All very thorough and there didn’t seem much in the way of delays. It all rolled on very quickly.”

The study is led by University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire. It also includes hospitals in Birmingham and potentially North Midlands.

Dr Anirban Chatterjee, Principal Investigator, said: “Patients like the six-visit option instead of 12-13 visits for radiotherapy and no extra toxicity has been reported in the trial patients to date.”

Recruitment for this phase ends on 31 March. The full study is due to finish in March 2027.