The AXREM Radiotherapy Special Focus Group (SFG) is a proactive and collaborative network of industry leaders working to advance radiotherapy services across the UK. The group engages closely with national cancer charities, Radiotherapy UK, and the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Radiotherapy, chaired by MP Tim Farron, to advocate for equitable access, modern technology, and strategic investment in radiotherapy.
In November 2023, AXREM launched a refreshed Manifesto for Radiotherapy: Driving Towards a Modern, World-Class Radiotherapy Service, which calls for a bold national strategy to close gaps in survivability, improve access to advanced treatment, and address critical issues in capacity, funding, and workforce planning.
To support this campaign, the group has more recently developed a Radiotherapy Puzzle, a visual tool that illustrates the interconnected components needed to deliver effective radiotherapy and a Radiotherapy Patient Video (you can view above), which shares real stories and highlights the life-changing impact of timely, high-quality treatment.
Strategic Priorities
The Radiotherapy SFG is focused on:
- Increasing investment: Advocating for a greater share of the NHS cancer budget to be allocated to radiotherapy (currently just 5%)
- Improving access: Ensuring advanced radiotherapy technologies are available across all regions of the UK
- Supporting workforce and capacity: Addressing staffing shortages and infrastructure gaps to meet rising demand
- Driving innovation: Promoting precision technologies that reduce side effects and improve patient outcomes
- Raising awareness: Engaging with policymakers, clinicians, and the public to elevate the role of radiotherapy in cancer care
Why Radiotherapy Matters
Radiotherapy is a highly effective cancer treatment that uses targeted high-energy radiation to destroy cancer cells. Unlike chemotherapy, which affects the whole body, modern radiotherapy is accurate to within millimetres sparing healthy tissue and enabling treatment of cancers that may be inoperable or otherwise untreatable.
Key facts:
- Radiotherapy improves survival in 16% of cancer patients, compared to just 2% with chemotherapy
- Only 5% of the NHS cancer budget is spent on radiotherapy
- 1 in 4 people in the UK will undergo radiotherapy in their lifetime
- By 2025, 60% of cancer patients will require radiotherapy as part of their treatment
- UK cancer survival rates lag behind the European average in 9 out of 10 cancers
Resources and Engagement
To the right of this page, you’ll find links to resources for both students and patients, including educational materials and support tools. The Radiotherapy SFG continues to work on a wide range of initiatives to support awareness, training, and strategic development ensuring that radiotherapy remains a cornerstone of modern cancer care.
Member companies in our Radiotherapy SFG are:
- Accuray Accuray International Sarl – AXREM
- Brainlab Brainlab Ltd – AXREM
- Elekta Elekta Ltd – AXREM
- Ergea Ergea UK & Ireland Limited – AXREM
- Oncology Systems Limited Oncology Systems Limited – AXREM
- Quadris Quadris Limited – AXREM
- Radformation Radformation Inc. – AXREM
- RaySearch RaySearch Laboratories AB (publ) – AXREM
- Siemens Healthineers Siemens Healthineers – AXREM
- Varian Medical Systems Varian Medical Systems – AXREM
If you company works in the radiotherapy space and you would like to find out more about AXREM membership please email: sally.edgington@axrem.org.uk