QA Hospital joins government-funded trial to reduce breast cancer radiotherapy treatment
Hospital to take part in new cancer trial
QA Hospital will take part in a government-funded trial to test whether breast cancer radiotherapy can be safely reduced from three weeks to five days.
Women with breast cancer could be spared 10 hospital visits during radiotherapy treatment through government-backed research, which is being trialled at 39 hospitals across the country.
The FAST-Forward Boost trial will test a shorter course of radiotherapy with an additional targeted dose, known as a boost, to help prevent breast cancer returning.
The trial is led by The Institute of Cancer Research, London and funded through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). If successful, the approach could reduce travel costs and time away from work and family, while freeing up NHS capacity to treat more people.
Queen Alexandra Hospital, in Cosham, will also be joined by Southampton General Hospital in the trial.
New figures show more women are taking up their first breast screening invitation than at any point in the past decade, with uptake reaching 63.6 per cent. However, around four in 10 women invited for the first time do not attend.
Health and social care secretary, Yvette Cooper, said: “This trial shows how the UK is using our world beating research capabilities to pursue huge improvements and transformations in cancer treatment for patients in our NHS.
“This programme is aiming to radically shorten the treatment times for breast cancer - to support patients and save more lives. The UK is home to some of the best medical research and clinical expertise in the world, and this trial is the latest example of what we can achieve when we bring them together.
“Better cancer care also means listening to those who know what it means to live with it.”
The National Cancer Plan sets out action to find cancer earlier, improve treatment and ensure people living with cancer receive the best possible care and support.
The government, in partnership with NIHR and NHS England, is also delivering trials of AI to support the analysis of mammograms and working with Breast Cancer Now over the next three years to help women recognise signs of cancer and access trusted information and support after treatment.
Participants involved in the trial will be monitored for five years, with results expected in 2033.