Empathy, clarity and trust. This is what people ask when they rely on the team that follows them for a radiation oncology treatment, therefore for the treatment of a tumor. But above all, in a logic that favors the human relationship with the carers and team work, those who undergo treatment perceive the treatments as an effective, precise and humanly sustainable phase.
This data is offered by the AstraRicerche-AIRO survey on patients undergoing radiotherapy between 2012 and 2022, presented today in Rimini on the occasion of the AIRO National Congress (Italian Association of Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology).
Not just effectiveness
In the face of the development of machinery and technology, with innovation at the forefront, the human aspect of therapies remains fundamental. 77% of patients felt well supported by the team and 66% judged the information received to be clear and complete. Confidence in the technology used for radiotherapy is high (92%), as is the evaluation of the management of disorders, considered effective or adequate by 93%. Six months after treatment, 71% report no effects, but the emotional component remains strong. Almost one in two (48%) indicates concern about the disease as the main difficulty, followed by inflammatory or burning symptoms (21%) and the need for frequent visits (20%).
“The research shows us a radiotherapy that patients perceive as a reliable and humanely attentive treatment but also reminds us that the quality of the experience is not measured only in terms of clinical effectiveness. Today the real challenge is to accompany the patient beyond the technical phase of the treatment, building more structured psychological, informational and relational support paths”
Marco Krengli, President of AIRO, intervenes.
What are you looking for and how do you deal with it
Among the most cited positive aspects stand out the empathy of the staff (66%) and the role of doctors in explaining and welcoming (64%). The relationship with the team is described primarily as being very supportive (43%) or professional and friendly (51%). Only 6% perceive him as detached while no one considers him cold. On the information received before starting radiotherapy, 66% indicated it as clear and complete.
“When the patient finds a team present and understandable communication, trust in technology becomes a concrete ally and the clinical experience is more sustainable”
indicates Stefano Pergolizzi, President of AIRO since 2026.
Thinking about their state six months after the end of therapy, 71% report no effects. Among the 29% who report them, the impact is almost zero for 7%, mild for 53% but moderate for 30% and severe for only 10%. Check-ups are considered useful by 93% (of which 68% are very useful). When returning to daily life, 39% did so quickly, 47% required a medium/long term, while 13% had to change some habits.
The role of emotion
The first critical factor, according to the survey, is therefore not technical but emotional. There is a strong concern linked to the disease (first for 48%; first/second for 72%). This is followed by inflammatory/burning symptoms (51%) and the need for many hospital visits (47%). Despite this, the management of disorders is assessed as effective and timely (44%) or in any case adequate (49%).
“The data on worry tells us about a need that goes beyond the clinical part, because even when the therapy works, the patient experiences an emotional burden that cannot be overlooked. This is where the true quality of care comes into play: in knowing how to offer clear information, reassurance and continuity of listening. For this reason we are working on psychological support and information paths that are more integrated into daily practice, so as to prevent anxiety, contain the impact of symptoms and accompany the patient throughout the treatment and follow-up”
concludes Michele Fiore, AIRO Councilor.
Overcoming prejudices
The case of prostate cancer, speaking of radiotherapy, is emblematic. It should be used in 50-60% of cases but in our country it only reaches 15-20%, due to the many widespread clichés, ranging from the lower weight attributed to the effectiveness of this approach compared to the surgical and pharmacological one, to the fear of not having a normal sexual life, up to the erroneous belief that the treatment is only palliative or limited to extreme cases where surgery can no longer be used.
“Despite the passing of the years, radiotherapy continues to be shrouded in an aura of mistrust mixed with misinformation, and when we propose it to patients, the majority initially think they are already doomed. And this is not due to the severity of the disease, but because they believe they are a candidate for a treatment that is less effective than surgery. Yet, we are talking about one of the cornerstones of oncology therapies, in particular for prostate cancer, which can be defined as curative like the scalpel. As demonstrated by one Anglo-Saxon study, recently published in European Urology, which compared robotic surgery with precision radiotherapy, highlighting how with equal recovery in over 90% of cases, when the tumor is confined within the prostate gland, modern radiotherapy is also better tolerated in some symptomatic aspects, better preserving urinary continence and erectile function. One patient in two would be suitable for radiotherapy treatment, but only one patient out of it 5 is subjected to this non-invasive treatment method”
warns Filippo Alongi, director of the Department of advanced oncology radiation therapy at the IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital in Negrar and professor of oncology radiation therapy at the University of Brescia.
In recent years, it must be said, this method has made enormous progress, thanks to the use of increasingly sophisticated devices, which allow very selective and limited treatments to be carried out, with a reduction in any side effects.
