An exploratory study of imaging in a seated position for radiation therapy patients with lung cancer or head and neck cancer

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This study is testing a new radiation therapy device, a rotating chair, as an alternative to the normal treatment position (lying down) for patients with either head and neck or lung cancer. The main purpose of this research is to find out if the images we take of patients seated in the radiation therapy chair are suitable for positioning a patient during radiation therapy, which is essential to ensure that the therapy can be delivered to the target area. Who is it for? You may be eligible for this study if you are aged 50 years or older, you have been scheduled to receive radiation therapy for either lung cancer or head and neck cancer, you are able to move into a sitting or a lying position independently and you are willing to have routine radiotherapy in the afternoon. Study details All patients who choose to enrol in this study will be asked to participate in three main sessions, a seated simulation session (30 minutes), a seated imaging session and questionnaire (approximately 60 minutes), and a follow up questionnaire (approximately 15 minutes). These sessions are in addition to a radiation simulation session and multiple radiation treatment sessions which are a part of usual care. During the seated sessions, participants will be asked to sit in the rotating radiation therapy chair. The chair is rotated by a small electric motor, in a similar motion to how an office chair rotates. Study participants will be rotated very slowly – it will take 1-2 minutes to do two full rotations. There will be no extra visits to the hospital if you choose to take part in this study, all additional sessions will be scheduled on days you would be attending hospital for usual care. In the seated simulation session, we will introduce participants to the rotating radiation therapy chair. Our therapists will adjust the chair to a comfortable position and setup equipment to help keep participants still. In the seated imaging session, we will take an image similar to a CT image (CAT scan) by rotating participants in the chair whilst taking a series of x-ray images. This image will be assessed to see if it is suitable for positioning patients for radiation therapy in the future. We will also take x-rays to test if a patient’s body position changes while sitting in the chair, and if we would be able to set a patient up in the same body for multiple treatments in the future. Participants will be interviewed about their experience of both lying down for routine treatment and sitting in the rotating chair. Patients will be interviewed with a follow-up questionnaire, after one of their routine radiation treatments near the end of their treatment course. It is hoped this research will determine whether use of a rotating chair for radiation therapy is possible and whether this method of delivery is comfortable for participants. If this study demonstrates that is possible, a larger study to test treatment with the chair may occur in the future.