Report on the GEC-ESTRO Workshop 2025

This was a discussion point in the radiation therapist (RTT) track at the GEC-ESTRO Workshop 2025, which took place in Belgrade, Serbia, in November. Actually, this point was pretty much agreed upon, because RTTs and radiotherapy nurses (RT Nurses) are essential to the daily brachytherapy clinic.  The question is why the representation in these disciplines is low at conferences such as the GEC-ESTRO Workshop. What is the point of having an RTT track if the discipline is not well represented? To find this out, we sent out a survey at the beginning of 2025.

We got a lot of really enthusiastic responses from all over the world. Unfortunately, most of the responders said they weren’t able to come to conferences because of time and funding. Furthermore, there is a language barrier for some RTTs and RT Nurses. How can we connect members of these rather important professions? Would it be an idea to initiate an RTT and RT Nurse Working Group within GEC-ESTRO? We could meet mainly in a hybrid or online format and fill the RTT track at the GEC-ESTRO Workshop with the discussed subjects of the last year. Maybe it’s time to build an international network of RTTs and RT Nurses! I presented this idea to the GEC-ESTRO committee, and they were positive about it.

The RTT track at the GEC-ESTRO Workshop last November was based on starting this initiative. The first part of the track contained six pitches from six different countries, presented by RTTs. It was about the cervical cancer workflow and especially the task delegation. After the pitches, we had a discussion.

Next on the agenda was a presentation about our plans for the future. We, the leadership team, intend to start as an RTT task force and then become a working group within GEC-ESTRO if we manage to make the task force a success. I presented the highlights of the road map to the GEC-ESTRO RTT / RT Nurse task force, and we asked for input and ideas.

We can’t do this alone – we really need your help to make the task force a success! Are you an RTT or RT Nurse who would like to be involved in our group (no obligations)? Please scan this QR code and join! We hope to see you at our first online meeting!

Kind regards,

Paulien Mulder

RTT, UMC Utrecht, The Netherlands

On behalf of the leadership team: Pauline Humphrey (UK), Mirjam Laman (The Netherlands), Bernd Wisgrill (Austria), Paulien Mulder (The Netherlands) and Patrizia Cornacchione (Italy), who is not on the picture.