COMBINING creative arts and personal stories of cancer treatment, arts-based initiative
Radiotherapy and Me returns to Oldham Library 11am – 4pm this Saturday (13 April), with
their latest event On Our Wavelength.
Oldham residents are invited to experience real-life stories of radiotherapy told through
visual arts, spoken word and poetry at a free event with local patients and health
researchers.
Artists from the Manchester-based arts and theatre organisation Contact will
also be on hand to help you tell your own story on the day.
Launched in January 2019, the project has led a number of creative workshops to help local
people who have experienced radiotherapy, either as a patient, friend or family member, to
share their stories in different ways, raise awareness of radiotherapy as a modern treatment
for cancer, and overcome any fears and anxieties around it.
Led by The Public Programmes Team, radiotherapy researchers at the NIHR Manchester
Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), and creative practitioners Nathaniel Hall and Lara
Veitch, herself a former radiotherapy patient, this latest workshop will showcase stories from
previous participants and offer new visitors the chance to take part themselves.
Jackie Walsh participated in the previous workshops and is a former radiotherapy patient at
The Christie centre at The Royal Oldham Hospital. She said:
“At the start of the project, I was way out of my comfort zone. I don’t really see myself as an
arts and crafts type but I’ve really enjoyed this and I’ve also benefited from hearing everyone
else’s stories.”
“I hope that our stories will take away the fears that people may have about the treatment.
It’s good for people to hear about radiotherapy from people who have experienced it as well
as the health professionals.”
Professor Ananya Choudhury, Chair and Honorary Consultant in Clinical Oncology at The
Christie, runs radiotherapy clinics at The Royal Oldham Hospital. She said:
“Radiotherapy is a vital treatment – around half of cancer patients who are cured receive
radiotherapy as part of their treatment. We want to raise awareness of radiotherapy, as well
as the research we are doing to improve the treatment’s benefits and minimise side effects.”
“We believe a really powerful way to engage people is through the first-hand stories of
patients who have received radiotherapy.”
The session is open to all and refreshments will be available. There is no need to book in
advance.
Information about the event:
Date: Saturday 13 April 2019
Time: 11am – 4pm
Venue: Oldham Library, Greaves Street, OL1 1AL
Cost: Free
Event Contact:
Email: Paolo.Arru@mft.nhs.uk
Phone: 0161 276 6614 / 07816 447 520
Website: www.radiotherapyandme.co.uk
Twitter: @ResearchDialog