ESTRO 2025 - Abstract Book

S4166

RTT - Patient experience and quality of life

ESTRO 2025

Results: Demographic and clinical details of the participants are provided in Figure 1. Analysis revealed three themes amongst the participants' experiences, also depicted in Figure 2: 1. Discomfort : Many participants experienced discomfort due to positioning requirements, such as holding arms above the head and breath-holding techniques. M103 described: "What it gets is your shoulders because I'm like that [holds arms up]... It hurts my shoulders and the top of my hands." The purpose and necessity of certain equipment such as vac-bags was questioned, for example: “I've never been in the same position on that thing.” 2. Communication : Participants expressed not fully understanding the planning and treatment procedures. There was often a discordance between the information provided to them and what was understood. After completing their treatment, participants felt more clarity could be provided around the outcomes and next steps. For example, participant M106 was unclear about follow-up procedures and timescales: "I don't know what's going to happen now... just go away and we'll ring you in six weeks... it's like an anti-climax." Participants expressed trust in medical professionals and an appreciation for the advanced treatments they received. 3. Coping and support : Despite facing challenges such as co-morbidities and prior familial experiences of cancer, participants described how they adopted various coping mechanisms, including maintaining hope and a positive attitude, distraction, focussing on future events, and trusting healthcare professionals. The support received from family was frequently expressed.