BRIG for Radiation Therapists with a special interest in breast irradiation.

1. Breast radiotherapy Interest group (BRIG)
Professor Heidi Probst
Sheffield Hallam University

2. Why was BRIG set up?
• Breast cancer accounts for a substantial proportion
of the radiotherapy workload and many radiation
therapists are developing specialist expertise in this
field.
• Radiotherapy technique applied for breast cancer
varies considerably across the globe. A recent audit
of members of BRIG identified variations in dose
fractionation, number of tattoos used for positioning,
and use of immobilisation to name just a few.

3. • The development of a Breast Radiotherapy Interest
Group (BRIG) that has members from across the globe
has the potential to allow the sharing of good practice,
cross fertilisation of ideas, development of innovative
approaches to current challenges in the delivery of
radiotherapy for breast cancer patients and to drive
forward co-ordinated research.
• BRIG is for qualified Radiation Therapists/
Therapeutic Radiographers with an interest in breast
cancer treatment.
Why was BRIG set up? And Who is it for?

4. 1. Sharing of good practice- improve service delivery
2. Opportunities for learning
3. Opportunity to develop and extend skill base
4. Links, partnerships/collaborations
5. Collaborative research
What are the benefits of joining?

5. Currently BRIG has over 120 members and these are
from:
• UK
• Australia
• Canada
• New Zealand
• Dubai
• USA
What is the current member base?

6. • Primarily through e-mail circulations
• A Google Discussion Group
How do we communicate?

7. • Our current work plan is to:
1. Publish the outcomes of a recent member audit of
techniques used.
2. Develop learning resources for the BRIG community.
3. To engage with other breast cancer organisations to
facilitate sharing of knowledge and expertise in breast
irradiation practice.
4. To take forward co-ordinated research activity to
enhance the service for patients undergoing breast
irradiation following a diagnoses of breast cancer.
What is our current work plan?

8. Want to join?
Please contact either
Heidi Probst h.probst@shu.ac.uk
Kim Whitlock kim.whitlock@nnuh.nhs.uk
Michele Cardoso michele.cardoso@jcc.hhsc.ca