In this episode of Open Doors, we sit down with Dr. Nicky Thorp, consultant clinical oncologist at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, whose career has been devoted to paediatric radiotherapy and proton beam therapy. With decades of clinical and leadership experience — including serving as Medical Director for Professional Practice at the Royal College of Radiologists and now Co-lead for Wellbeing — Dr. Thorp brings a steady, thoughtful perspective to the realities of cancer care.

Together, we explore what it means to care in a field that asks so much of its clinicians. Dr. Thorp reflects on the unique challenges and rewards of working with children and young people, and the trust built through small, repeated moments of presence. We look beyond the technology of radiotherapy to the human environment that surrounds it — the teamwork, preparation, and emotional scaffolding that help patients and families navigate a demanding process with courage and dignity.

Responsibility is a recurring theme, as Dr. Thorp shares what it feels like to hold decisions that are both technically exacting and deeply personal. She offers insight into how she approaches uncertainty, maintains clarity under pressure, and sustains the discipline needed to keep showing up day after day.