We consider that the European Society for Radiation and Oncology (ESTRO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) can contribute to our plan and have a great impact on our further development. They are organisations in which many profiles and experiences meet. Correlating with this, the ESTRO/IAEA “Train the Trainers” course for RTTs offers an opportunity to connect with colleagues and professionals from across Europe and exchange experiences for the development of best practice.

The main theme of this year’s two-day short course was the necessity for further development of our practices as well as improvements in our everyday work. The main title was: “The importance of continuous education – Radiotherapy treatment for patients with gynaecological malignancies”. Most of the 50 professional participants came from the University Clinic of Radiotherapy and Oncology, including RTTs, physicists and radiation oncologists. Twelve of them actively participated in the course and presented their roles in the treatment planning process.

Philipp Scherer, the chair of the ESTRO RTT Committee, gave a presentation, which we welcomed as an act of support for our further development. RTT committee member Bartosz Bak from Poznan, Poland, presented a retrospective of the implementation of postgraduate studies for RTTs in his country. The process he outlined offered inspiration for a similar implementation in North Macedonia. 

Radiation oncologists Doc. Dr Violeta Klisarovska and Spec. Dr Petar Chakalaroski offered a presentation on a widely discussed subject, the aetiology and radiobiology of gynaecological regions of the human body, as well as the dose distribution and dose limits for organs at risk in regions undergoing treatment. Their presentation was an introduction to a research conducted in collaboration with the radiation technologist on 22 patients with endometrial/cervical cancer.

Medical physicist Alek Atevikj spoke regarding dose distribution in the regions of interest during treatments, as well as some future aspirations for the improvement of the planning process. 

A group of RTTs - Vedrit Ibushoski, Miroslav Mitevski, Sasho Pejkovikj, Violeta Dimovska, Sanja Dimitrova Stojanovska and Zoran Bajovski – presented findings regarding computerised tomography (CT) simulation, patient education, verification modalities and treatment delivery. They demonstrated the protocols employed in the collection of information and the results obtained, after processing and calculation, from the 22 endometrial/cervical cancer patients in the study mentioned above. The data were prepared by the RTTs and the radiation oncologists, and they gave a clearer perspective of the patients’ status during treatment. The results demonstrated the need for close and frequent monitoring of patients before delivery of treatment.

Events like this can highly motivate the team and boost enthusiasm for the development of practical skills that can improve everyday practice. Moreover, this event is likely to have wider influence in the sector, as interest in professional development among RTTs in North Macedonia is constantly increasing.