My name is Sabina. I am a Consultant Therapeutic Radiographer who specialises in Head and Neck cancer.  I lead a Head and Neck late effects service in London, supporting cancer-free patients experiencing side effects from their previous radiation treatment. Being a Muslim woman of Bangladeshi heritage working in cancer, as we know that illness does not discriminate, means my background and experience can ensure personalised care for our community.

When I was younger, I didn’t know what I wanted to be or what profession suited my skills.  But what I did know, was that I was interested in all subjects and wanted a profession where I could make a difference, without compromising my beliefs. I accidently fell in to Radiotherapy, after a friend recommended it at sixth form.  What I discovered was a career path that met my hunger for information and enabled me to use my diverse skills to ultimately treat patients.  Here I found the perfect mix of patient contact, physics, maths and biology and problem solving on a daily basis.  I work with a multidisciplinary team consisting of oncologists, surgeons, nurses, dietitians, speech and language therapists and radiographers.

I have been practising Therapeutic Radiography for 17 years and in that time, engaged in different roles to gain extensive knowledge and experience in the treatment of cancer. As a pre-treatment radiographer, I had prepared highly complex plans to treat cancers as efficiently as possible whilst minimising the impact on normal tissue and side effects.  While as a treatment radiographer – where I would see patients up to 30 times – my favourite!  You get to know so much about patients’ lives outside of cancer and the impact of their diagnosis. When I became a head and neck specialist therapeutic radiographer, I ran treatment clinics providing timely advice and prescriptions to help patients dealing with acute side effects from radiation to be able to complete treatment. I also looked at imaging on treatment to help influence decision making, such as amending treatment plans.

Being in this profession has shown me the importance of advocating and championing for the needs of underrepresented communities. I have actively sought to address health inequalities through creating pathways where patients from different minoritised and social backgrounds are able to be their authentic self. As a Consultant specialising in late effects rehabilitation for head and neck cancer, I have been fortunate to implement treatment plans that sensitively responds to the diverse needs of patients. This is an area I am extremely passionate about, as often patients feel powerless in the decision-making process of their treatment.  Also, cancer in those regions are not as widely known within the south east Asian population. So, I actively work with south Asian communities to raise awareness of how consumption of certain types of food, including beetle nut can increase the risk of head and neck cancer.  

Whilst we acknowledge that patients suffer from physical side effects, treatment can have psychological and social outcomes significantly influencing a patient’s quality of life.  Part of my role is to treat patients holistically, to help minimise those effects and increase quality of life. This can include acknowledging the impact of religion and culture on recovery. 

I had noticed many Muslim patients attending our late effects treatment clinic were not always able to reflect on how their culture and religious beliefs is part of their survivorship journey.  To empower those patients, I have supported them to find religious and culturally appropriate support groups, as well as holding discussions with their family members.

Nutrition plays a vital role in the recovery after head and neck treatment. Given that so much of our identity is influenced by food and the pressure of being told what to eat or concerns about what others think can affect one’s way of life. Being aware of the certain challenges minority ethnic patients tend to experience, I work closely with nutritionists and dietitians creating food recommends that are more palatable and relatable to their needs.  

Radiotherapy is a rapidly changing field with new cancer diagnostic innovations that enable for earlier detection and diagnosis. It also is a rewarding area to work in. The biggest gain is in knowing that you have made a difference to someone’s life; that you have been able to help them to re-build their confidence and self-worth. To be able to empower patients to live well with the consequences of their radiotherapy is the greatest achievement for me. That is what makes life as a Consultant in therapeutic radiography worth it!