A new observer in the radiation therapists’ committee - PDF Version

I am a radiation therapist (RTT) who has joined the European SocieTy for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) RTT committee as an observer.

I have been working as a radiation therapist (RTT) since 2008 in the radiotherapy department of the Centre Léon Bérard in Lyon, France. I take care of patients who come for treatment in the linear accelerator rooms or who require computed tomography (CT) scans. I have a strong interest in patient positioning and immobilisation devices. I was first involved in the assessment of a patient’s position in 2012, which confirmed my wish to contribute to the improvement of patient positioning and immobilisation.

To increase my knowledge, I gained a university degree, which provided me with better methods to write research protocols. Then I submitted two protocols to the French national grant programme, which were accepted. In one of these, the possible use of Exactrac imaging to verify the patient’s position for head and neck radiotherapy is being assessed, and the position of the clinical target volume of the tumour is under study in relation to the vertebrae position during the whole treatment time. In the second project, the effectiveness of a therapeutic education programme in diet and physical activity is evaluated to see whether the reproducibility of the positions of patients undergoing prostate radiotherapy is improved.

Recently, I have had the opportunity to work with Professor Vincent Gregoire, head of the radiotherapy department in Centre Léon Bérard, and the team of Leo Cancer Care and patients, on a device to hold patients upright for radiotherapy. It is a challenge to make, develop and assess such immobilisation devices.. To manage these challenges, I am training to become a Master 2 in research and innovation in healthcare with the Paris 13 University.

I also teach students who are studying for the French radiographer degrees and for the new university degree about advanced clinical practice, which has begun at the University of Paris-Saclay. I am an active member of the French radiographer’s association (AFPPE) and more specifically of the radiotherapy committee. My aims in this association are to inform and train RTTs and to work for the development of our profession.

With these same objectives, I have submitted my application to join the ESTRO RTT committee. I wish to train and share my experience with other people, organise training for professionals and give RTTs opportunities to discuss their work, in order to improve radiotherapy and develop our profession on a scale beyond national borders. These aspects of my work are very important to me and this interest encouraged me to submit my application to join the RTT committee.

Sophie Boisbouvier
Radiation Therapist
Centre Léon Bérard
Lyon, France
sophie.boisbouvier@lyon.unicancer.fr