Charity funds new contact radiotherapy programme at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre to treat rectal cancer

East and North Hertfordshire Hospitals' Charity has funded an innovative treatment at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre that could greatly improve the outcome for patients with rectal cancer. 

Led by clinical oncologist and brachytherapist, Dr Mohammed Abdul-Latif, the contact radiotherapy programme will treat patients with early, and locally advanced, rectal cancer.  

The procedure delivers superficial radiation directly to rectal tumours, preserving the organ's function and avoiding the need for a permanent stoma. 

The £100,000 charity funding has provided the equipment and system needed to perform the procedure. The pioneering technique will ensure patients diagnosed with the condition can expect a greater quality of life.  

Mount Vernon Cancer Centre, part of East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust, treats around 13,000 patients a year from Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and north-west London and has a world-renowned brachytherapy department. This new contact radiotherapy technique for rectal cancer, which will be performed as a day case treatment, avoids the need for stoma surgery and maintains bowel function, a significant factor that determines quality of life.  

One of the first patients to receive the treatment was Maureen Kelly. Maureen said: "I feel fortunate to have been given the opportunity to take part in this trial. I hope the treatment makes a difference for me in the future and helps many others facing similar circumstances. I am truly grateful for the care and support of the medical team." 

Dr Mohammed Abdul-Latif added: "Thanks to funding from our hospital charity, we are now able to offer this life-changing, NICE approved, treatment to our patients at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre.  

"We have already treated our first patients, and their outcome now looks very promising. Being able to avoid having a life-long stoma is going to have a significant, positive impact on their quality of life. 

"I want to thank the charity for supporting this project. It will make such a difference to patients diagnosed with rectal cancer." 

Eloise Huddleston, director of East and North Hertfordshire Hospitals' Charity, said: "We are proud to have supported such an important project for patients with rectal cancer at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre.  

"It's been great working with Dr Abdul-Latif to get the programme implemented. His drive and passion to provide this treatment for his patients will mean they can continue to live their lives relatively unaffected and not have to go through invasive surgery or live with a stoma.  

"To help us continue to fund more projects like this, please visit: www.enhhcharity.org.uk/mvcc."