Supporting patients at the Royal United Hospital.
February 2026
We are raising funds to purchase a new Superficial X-ray Therapy unit for the Cancer Centre at the Royal United Hospital (RUH), Bath — vital technology that will directly improve the treatment of cancer patients in our community.
The RUH is working in partnership with the Bath Cancer Unit Support Group (BCUSG) to replace the current Superficial X-ray Therapy unit, which was originally funded by BCUSG in 2010 and has now reached the end of its safe operational life after 15 years of service.
Superficial X-ray Therapy units are typically replaced every 10 years. However, due to the exceptional care and maintenance provided by both the department and the service provider, the current unit has safely and reliably exceeded its expected lifespan, continuing in service for an additional five years.
This new, modern unit will ensure that patients in Bath and the surrounding areas continue to receive high-quality, local, specialist cancer treatment, without the need to travel further afield.
Our goal is to raise £325,000 to fund the purchase of a brand-new Superficial X-ray Therapy unit, enabling the Cancer Centre at the Royal United Hospital to continue delivering essential treatments to patients who need them most.
Superficial radiotherapy to the skin
Superficial radiotherapy is a type of external radiotherapy. It treats cancer on or close to the skin surface. Superficial radiotherapy means that the radiation doesn’t travel far into your body.
It delivers precise, targeted radiation directly to affected cells, while protecting healthy surrounding tissue. This makes it a highly effective, non-invasive treatment option for many patients.
With the incidence of skin cancer continuing to rise, and increasing pressure on clinics driven by an ageing population, access to modern, reliable treatment technology has never been more important.
How common is skin cancer
Around 156,000 cases of non melanoma skin cancer are diagnosed in the UK each year. The number could be higher as we know that they are under reported. This makes it the most common type of cancer by far. Because non melanoma skin cancers are easy to treat and cure, they’re often left out of national cancer statistics.
Skin cancers can grow slowly and it can take some years before the cancer is noticed. But sometimes a skin cancer can grow very quickly, within a few months.
There are 2 main types of skin cancer – non melanoma skin cancer and melanoma skin cancer.
Non melanoma skin cancer includes:
• Basal cell skin cancer – this is also called basal cell carcinoma (BCC) • Squamous cell skin cancer – this is also called squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) – Cancer Research has a section of its website about non melanoma skin cancer here. They have another section for melanoma skin cancer here.
The Superficial X-ray Therapy unit is vital equipment is primarily used for the treatment of skin cancers, particularly basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma (both non-melanoma skin cancers). It also plays an important role in reducing raised skin lesions caused by previous radiotherapy, helping to improve patient comfort and outcomes.
References: Cancer Research UK / © Cancer Research UK [2002] All rights reserved. Information taken 16/02/26 / Cancer Research UK is independent of Bath Cancer Unit Support Group
Common Clinical Uses Include
•Skin Cancers
•Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)
•Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)
•Other non-melanoma skin cancers
•Benign Conditions
•Keloid scar management
•Dupuytren’s contracture
For many patients, this technology provides a fast, safe, non-surgical alternative to invasive procedures, significantly improving comfort, recovery time, and outcomes.
About Bath Cancer Unit Support Group
The origins of Bath Cancer Unit Support Group date back to 1979, when Shepton Mallet farmer Chris Norman learned that the cancer unit at the Royal United Hospital was at risk of being closed and relocated to Bristol. Determined to protect local cancer services, the charity was born.
Today, BCUSG is a small, local charity run entirely by volunteers. We exist to support cancer services at the RUH by funding:
● Life-saving equipment
● Enhanced facilities
● Patient comfort initiatives
● Essential services not covered by NHS funding
When you donate to BCUSG, you are supporting all of our projects — helping improve care for cancer patients across our region.
If you would like to find out more about this project and our charity, do a collection or a fundraising event for The Bath Cancer Unit Support Group please contact our fundraising lead Alan Webb on 07896 741 233 or you can email him at fundraising@bcusg.org