New Covid-19 protection information for cancer patients

IPEM has worked with a number of professional bodies and leading cancer care charities to produce tailored coronavirus information for radiotherapy patients.

“Protecting people with cancer from coronavirus when going for radiotherapy” is an advice leaflet which has been jointly produced by IPEM, the Royal College of Radiologists, the Society and College of Radiographers, Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support.

Cancer centres have continued to provide radiotherapy treatment throughout the coronavirus pandemic. It is understandable, however, that some patients may be worried about an increased risk of coronavirus infection when visiting a hospital site.  

The new advice has been created to reassure radiotherapy patients about what precautions are being taken by cancer centres to ensure both patients and hospital staff are as protected as possible. 

It stresses the importance of continuing to go for radiotherapy treatment and explains various new safety precautions that hospitals may now be using.

These precautions include checking for coronavirus symptoms, changing access routes into departments and waiting area arrangements, as well as the use of personal protective equipment where appropriate. 

Professor Stephen O’Connor, IPEM’s President, said: ‘Going for cancer treatment is stressful at any time, but especially so during the coronavirus pandemic.

‘This advice should hopefully help to reassure patients that their safety is of paramount importance and the information outlines the various measures being taken to protect them.

‘We are pleased to have worked with our fellow professional bodies and leading cancer charities to produce this.’