The Swallows Australian Edition Magazine

Radiation Oncology:
The Targeting Cancer
Campaign
- A/Prof Sandra Turner
Associate Professor Sandra Turner is Staff
Specialist in Radiation Oncology at Westmead
Hospital in Sydney and Clinical Lead of the
Targeting Cancer Campaign
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is a central part of treatment
for many patients with Head and Neck
Cancers, either alone or in combination with
chemotherapy, surgery or both. For head and
neck cancers, having radiation therapy, as a
non-invasive treatment, often enables people
to keep their normal functions such as speech
and swallowing. In addition, the
highly-targeted nature of modern radiation
therapy has meant that long term troublesome
side effects are declining all the time.
In Australia and New Zealand, while half of
patients diagnosed with cancers of all types
could potentially benefit from radiation therapy,
less than a third will actually receive this
treatment. Thousands of cancer patients are
missing out on radiation therapy that might
help cure them or alleviate distressing
symptoms, such as pain. This gap arises
mostly because many people with cancer, their
families, carers and even their doctors
(including general practitioners), are not aware
of the benefits of radiation therapy.
Radiation Oncology: Targeting Cancer
Campaign
The Radiation Oncology: Targeting Cancer
Campaign is an initiative of the Faculty of
Radiation Oncology within the Royal Australian
and New Zealand College of Radiologists
(RANZCR). Its objectives are to raise
awareness of radiation therapy as an effective,
safe and sophisticated treatment option and to
provide information for patients, carers, heath
care practitioners and policy makers.
We are proud to have Julie McCrossin, a head
and neck cancer survivor, as an Ambassador for
the Campaign. Since its launch in 2013, the
Radiation Oncology: Targeting Cancer Campaign
has developed lots of resources for patients and
their families, including a multi-award-winning
website – www.targetingcancer.com.au or
www.targetingcancer.co.nz –a trusted source of
information with content written by radiation
oncology professionals. There is an interactive
map to help patients to locate their nearest
treatment centre and videos including many real
patient stories. Julie’s story of oropharyngeal
cancer is featured in 6 videos on the website.
GP Education
The other major focus for the campaign is
around GP education to ensure that GPs are
able to advocate for their patients and know
when to refer them to radiation oncologists for
more information about non-surgical treatment
options and/or for control of symptoms.
For more information, please email
info@targetingcancer.com.au.
41