"Chemotherapy & Radiotherapy"
by patients for patients

An internationally renowned film, made with the help of the Sue Lawley & Anton Rodgers

About the film: Patients who had completed a course of treatment have teamed up with the medical profession  and TV personalities to produce this 21 minute program. Sue Lawley introduces the film and Anton Rodgers explains the details of chemotherapy and radiotherapy while watching patients actually going through the various stages of treatment. The sections on radiotherapy or chemotherapy both are clearly demarcated within which patients describe their own experiences, side effects and methods to alleviate them. This is the only cancer information film which has been scientifically evaluated and is now widely used in the UK, Australia and Italy.

 Prizes and awards

• Winner of the BUPA 1998 research sponsorship award.
• An educational merit in the 1999 BMA video award. 
• Runner up in the Hospital Doctor Magazine innovation prize 1999 
• Runner up in the BUPA communication award 1999. 
• Winner of the year 2000 NHS communication prize. 
• Winner of a £88k lottery award  (NOF) for translation into ethnic languages.
• Winner of the year 2000 Hospital Doctor innovation prize.
• Winner of the year 2000 overall Hospital Doctor award.
• Winner Pfizer 2006 UK oncology awards.

Recommended use

• The film was designed to be given to patients to take home after a diagnosis of cancer.
• Patients often watch it 2-3 times before returning it to the unit
• Should be given before the start of chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
• For use within an Oncology department a stock of 50 films is usually maintained in order that one is given to all patients 

Where to get a film: 

[1] Orders for the English DVD:

- For one copy.
If you want multiple copies for your information centre please contact us at HEP directly for a discounted price.

[2] For more information about the film in Urdu, Hindi, Bengali, contact:-

Published evidence about the benefits of the film. Between 1998-2000 the film was scientifically evaluated in a randomised multicentre UK trial.  It achieved a 95% satisfaction rate amongst patients who watched it, and  reduced treatment related anxiety and depression compared to those who did not. These data have been the subject of intense interest in medical conferences and literature across the world:

Video directed information - Patient satisfaction following a diagnosis of cancer. Deary A, Malone L, Jessop L, Akass C, Thomas R. An of Onc (ESM0) Volume 9, Sup 4, pp 143.

Anxiety & Depression - Effect on patients preferences for information following a diagnosis of cancer. Thomas R, Brown C, Stockton D. Ann of Onc (ESM0) Vol 9, Sup 4, pp 141.

Why Oncologist should provide a web site for their patients. L Dalton & R Thomas. The European Journal of Cancer. Vol.35. Sup.4. p.46 (ab.164).

Preparatory information on video cassette significantly reduces treatment associated anxiety & depression - A randomised multicentre trial. R Thomas, M Daly. EJC. Vol35, Sup4, p275.

Forewarned is forearmed – benefits of preparatory information on video cassette for patients receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy- a randomised trial. Thomas R, Daly M, Perryman B, Stockton D EJC 36 (2000) 1536-1543.

Further information