We are pleased to present the first issue of volume six of the Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice. The Journal continues to attract a good range of subjects and quality articles; this is pleasing given the importance that we place on promoting best practice and in the development of the radiotherapy practice evidence base.
We are delighted to welcome Dr. Gillian Heap as a new member of the Editorial Board. Gillian is the Research Manager for the Academic Clinical Oncology and Radiobiology Research Network (ACORRN) launched in 2005 by the National Cancer Research Institute to revitalise radiotherapy and radiobiology research in the UK. We anticipate that we will be able to keep Journal readers up-to-date with the progress of the research network.
Cytotoxic chemotherapy continues to play a key role in the management of malignant disease. This is reflected in the first two articles of this issue. In his Guest Editorial, Simon Waters explores current practice and future directions for the use of chemotherapy. This is followed by Robin Prestwich et al., exploring the rationale for and the current role of chemoradiotherapy. The rationale for combined-modality treatment, potential mechanisms of interaction, the therapeutic ratio and the current place of sequential and concurrent chemoradiotherapy are discussed.
In the third article, Heidi Probst from Sheffield Hallam University and Sue Griffiths, Leeds Cancer Centre, look at the topical subject of retaining therapy radiographers in the workforce. In this article, the authors evaluate the literature on job satisfaction as a way to inform the development of retention strategies within the radiotherapy profession. The discussion is focused on the themes of leadership and organisational governance, stress and burnout.
This is followed by Owen O’Connell discussing the question – Research or reality: Within the context of UK radiotherapy and cancer services, where should research and investment be focused to best improve UK treatment outcomes? In this article, O’Connell explores some recent advances in cancer treatment and considers whether UK cancer treatment outcomes will best improve through the clinical advances being made in cancer research or whether improvement needs to be more explicitly driven through a strategic approach.
Next, we have a short communication from Youlia Kirova et al., from the Curie Institute, Paris, France, who present six cases and a short critical review of the literature to determine whether women with preexisting scleroderma have an increased incidence of complications after breast-conserving radiotherapy.
This is followed by a case study from David Gerber et al., from Baltimore, USA, describing intracranial haemorrhage during GliaSite manipulation in a patient receiving long-term anticoagulation for a previously diagnosed pulmonary embolism. The GliaSite RTS and the management of venous thromboembolism in patients with brain tumours are reviewed.
And finally in this issue, as technological developments and improvements continue to change practice, Neil Madle, from Varian Medical Systems, Europe, describes the new technology incorporated in a new generation of linear accelerator and outlines how this technology is capable of enhancing treatment versatility and accuracy.
We hope you enjoy this first issue of our sixth volume and look forward to receiving future article submissions, particularly from first-time authors, who are guaranteed a supportive and enabling review process.
