Pictured above: Proton Beam Therapy patient Ryan Scott,23, from Cardigan with Kate Leaver, lead therapy radiographer, (right) and deputy lead radiographer Kerry Owen at the Rutherford Cancer Centre South Wales
One of the first patients in the UK to receive high-energy proton beam therapy has praised UK oncologists for embracing proton beam therapy and the transformative effects it has had on his treatment.
Ryan Scott, 23, from Cardigan in Wales, underwent treatment for a brain tumour (grade 1 cranio pharyngioma) at the Rutherford Cancer Centre South Wales in Newport as part of NHS Wales proton beam therapy treatment pathway for adults.
Ryan Scott said: “I was very pleased when my consultant recommended proton beam therapy and told me that it was available close to home in South Wales. I was due to be treated with proton beam therapy over the course of eight weeks in the United States, a disruption I was not looking forward to. Happily, however, the agreement between NHS Wales and the Rutherford Cancer Centres was struck just in time for me to be treated a short drive from home.
“The process of undergoing proton beam therapy was much better than anticipated. There have been hardly any side effects and being able to sleep in my bed after a day’s treatment is a real plus.”
Vaughan Gething AM, Minister for Health and Social Services, officially open the Rutherford Cancer Centre South Wales. He had this to say: “I am delighted to officially open the Rutherford Cancer Centre in Newport. It was the first facility in the UK to offer proton beam therapy for cancer patients, and an excellent example of the development of new cancer therapies, here in Wales. It’s a perfect illustration of how we are working collaboratively to deliver technological innovations to improve treatment for patients”.
Andrew Goodall, chief executive of NHS Wales, also attended the official opening.
The centre is part of a nationwide network that provides state-of-the-art cancer services including imaging, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy and high energy proton beam therapy.
Ryan Scott,23, from Cardigan is one of the first patients in the UK to receive high-energy proton beam therapy.
The Newport centre was recently approved by the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee (WHSSC) to provide high energy proton beam therapy to adult patients referred from the NHS in Wales, the centre also treated the first patient in the UK with proton beam therapy in April last year.
Mike Moran, chief executive of Proton Partners International which operates the Rutherford Cancer Centres, said: “It is gratifying to see UK oncologists becoming increasingly aware of proton therapy and embracing the treatment. Our collaborative partnership with the NHS in Wales means that adult patients have an option to be treated closer to home.”
“I am delighted by the support we have received from the Health Minister, the Welsh Government, the Wales Life Sciences Investment Fund and the NHS in Wales which has meant that Wales has been the pioneer in proton beam therapy in the UK. Patient demand is increasing and it is encouraging that the UK is beginning to catch up with Europe in the provision of this therapy.”
About the Rutherford Cancer Centres
There are more than 90,000 cancer patients in the UK every year who are treated with radical radiotherapy. Proton Partners International believes around 10% of patients treated with radical radiotherapy – the figure observed in other European countries – could be better treated with proton beam therapy.
The Rutherford Cancer Centres are at the forefront of providing innovative cancer care and creating a better future for cancer patients. With their commitment to excellence, the centres will provide an all-encompassing cancer service, delivering world-class imaging, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy and proton beam therapy treatment.
The Rutherford Cancer Centres feature the most advanced technologies and Proton Partners International has formed a partnership with IBA (Ion Beam Applications), the world’s leading provider of proton beam therapy solutions and Philips, a leader in health technology.
As well as the Rutherford Cancer Centre South Wales, Proton Partners International has since opened two further centres in England – the Rutherford Cancer Centre North East in Northumberland and the Rutherford Cancer Centre Thames Valley in Reading, which will open their respective proton beam therapy suites upon completion in 2019.
All of the centres are part of the Rutherford’s networked, centralised system. A fourth site is under construction in Liverpool.
All centres offer proton beam therapy to medically-insured private patients and self-paying patients.
For more information on the Rutherford Cancer Centres, please visit: www.therutherford.com
With thanks to Huw John for producing this article. mail@huwjohn.com, www.huwjohn.com, M: 07860 256991, Instagram: huwjohn_uk
