A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine looks at CT scans and lifetime cancer risk in the USA.    Lynda Johnson, Professional … read more

A study, published in The BMJ*, has looked at long-term survival of breast cancer patients undergoing single dose radiotherapy.   Joanne … read more

Polls show that the public do not recognise radiotherapy as a modern form of cancer therapy, and many would describe it as ‘frightening’. Yet radiotherapy is one of the most effective cancer treatments available, and a staggering array of new developments should allow radiotherapy to become increasingly personalised to individual cancer patients. Major advances, such as Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT), proton therapy, Cyberknife technology and research combining radiotherapy with MRI imaging, viral therapy, and chemotherapy, promise to revolutionise radiotherapy in the future. read more

Among patients with early stages of breast cancer, those whose hearts were more directly irradiated with radiation treatments on the left side in a facing-up position had higher risk of heart disease, according to research in JAMA Internal Medicine. read more

Despite the importance of autopsy following the death of a baby or young child, parents often object to them and consent rates for both neonatal and foetal autopsy are falling. It has previously been suggested that post-mortem MRI may offer an effective alternative to autopsy, and new research in The Lancet reports the first large prospective study of post-mortem MRI in foetuses, infants and children. read more

A high court judge ruled that seven-year old Neon Roberts, suffering from a cancerous brain tumour, should have radiotherapy against the wishes of his mother. read more

The Lancet published a study showing radiation exposure received from 2 to 3 CT scans of the head in childhood could triple the risk of later developing brain cancer, while around 5 to 10 such scans could triple the risk of developing leukaemia. read more

A study published in Cancer suggested that people who had received frequent dental x-rays in the past had an increased risk of meningioma, a type of brain tumour. read more

A study published in Cancer suggested that people who had received frequent dental x-rays in the past had an increased risk of meningioma, a type of brain tumour. As well as comments, the SMC sent out a Before The Headlines analysis. read more

Radiation safety experts provided comments on this announcement about scanning equipment currently being trialled in the UK. read more

Representatives from the National Radiotherapy Awareness Initiative, a group of organisations who are working to improve awareness of, and access to, radiotherapy services, came to the SMC to talk about the future of this treatment, particularly for breast and prostate cancers. read more