Member benefits
We lead, educate and support doctors to treat cancer today and for the future. Our members are the expert doctors running cancer services and delivering the latest treatments in the UK.
Right now, we are facing serious challenges in treating cancer. Below is a collection of our analysis and positions on cancer in the UK, highlighting the problem and solutions to improve these essential services.
If you would like to discuss our work in cancer treatment, please contact the College's External Affairs team on: [email protected].
Our census report presents a comprehensive picture of the clinical oncology workforce each year, and enables us to speak decisively about the issue.
Full information, including the data worksheet, complete census report, and reports from previous years, can be found using the link below.
A critical lack of capacity to deliver systemic anti-cancer therapies (SACT) to patients is considered to be the most pressing problem facing oncology departments across the UK.
The demand for SACT is surging, and we have been working to address the issue in the short, medium, and long terms.
Find out more about the capacity crisis and our work in SACT, including information on our government briefings.
Radiotherapy services are increasingly reporting long delays for patients needing treatment.
Our Radiotherapy Board have developed a policy briefing which explores the main drivers of lengthening waiting times and what action we need at a national and local level to support services.
"With one in two people developing cancer in their lifetime, we can all appreciate how important excellent, timely treatment is. However, cancer departments are facing huge pressures and too many patients are not getting the diagnoses and treatments they need as quickly as they should be.
We know that for every four-week delay before patients start treatment, the risk of death increases by up to 10%. The UK Government must prioritise investing in the cancer workforce, equipment and treatments so we can meet the needs of cancer patients today and long into the future."
Dr Tom RoquesVice-President Clinical Oncology
Read more about the consultant oncologists leading the Royal College of Radiologists in our list of Officers, which gives details of each role and information on those currently in post.
