ESTRO 2025 - Abstract Book

S4153

RTT - Patient experience and quality of life

ESTRO 2025

treatment. Further exploration is needed by oncology centres, to establish links with local social prescribing and SSM support services improving joined up working and providing collaborative and consistent support for patients.

Keywords: Support self-management, social prescribing, LWBC

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Proffered Paper Beyond the beam: exploring the hidden toxicities of radiotherapy and proton beam therapy from the patient perspective Danielle N Fairweather 1 , Rachel M Taylor 2,3 , Rita Simões 1,4,5 1 Cancer Services, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom. 2 Centre for Nurse, Midwife and AHP Research, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom. 3 Department of Targeted Intervention, University College London, London, United Kingdom. 4 Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom. 5 Radiotherapy Trials Quality Assurance (RTTQA) group, Mount Vernon Hospital, London, United Kingdom Purpose/Objective: The physical and psychosocial impacts of treatment can be distressing and profound for many patients undergoing radiotherapy and proton beam therapy (PBT). There has been significant research over recent years that aims to reduce physical treatment-related toxicities. There has been less research investigating the lived experience of patients undergoing radiotherapy and PBT. This study explores the hidden burdens of treatment to understand the experience of patients attending a large inner-city radiotherapy and PBT service. Material/Methods: A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was conducted with a purposive sample of participants diagnosed with the main indications for radiotherapy and PBT: sarcoma, breast, lung, brain, head & neck, and prostate. Semi-structured interviews were conducted between August 2023 and January 2024 either in person, virtually or by telephone. The interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed using AI transcription software (Otter AI). Transcripts were analysed using Framework Analysis. Results: In total, 20 patients were interviewed. Four main themes were identified: holistic needs, logistical concerns, physical, and interpersonal impacts (Table 1). Patients reported additional financial burdens such as transport and staying away from home: ‘I had to put money aside for the transportation… that puts pressure on people when they are sick.’ They also reported difficulty carrying out daily responsibilities which resulted in increased caregiver burden. Patients found both the middle and end of treatment the most physically and emotionally difficult, which coincided with the beginning and peak of side-effects. The psychosocial difficulty of returning to daily life and work after treatment was also highlighted as a concern. One patient was quoted saying, ‘I’m on the road to recovery, but I don’t know where I’m going.’