A LEADING radiation therapy company has been awarded for helping breast cancer patients worldwide.

Based in Arcadia Avenue, Finchley, Vision RT, was one of just six British companies to receive two Queens Awards at this year’s Queen’s 90th birthday awards.

The company won the innovation and the international trade award, both presented by Leslie Morgan OBE, deputy lieutenant of the Greater London Lieutenancy.

Dr Norman Smith founded the company in 2001, in the attic of his parents-in-law, together with Dr Ivan Meir and Peter Kalms.

The company’s technology demonstrated to reduce heart radiation damage for breast cancer radiotherapy patients.

This technology is now used in 37 of the top 50 American hospitals for cancer care.

Alison Young, a former patient of Vision RT’s Align technology at the clinic, shared her story on the night.

Ms Young said: “Being diagnosed with an aggressive type of breast cancer was like being given a death sentence so getting the best type of treatment became my top priority.

“There are side effects to every treatment and you accept that, but knowing that breath holding, as part of the radiotherapy treatment, would significantly reduce the risk of long term damage to my heart was extremely comforting.

“The technique from Vision RT made the whole process simple and easy to follow, and reassured me at every step that the radiotherapy was safe for my heart.”

The surface guided radiotherapy allows patients to take a deep breath and thereby position the breast so that the heart is spared from damage.

Dr Smith said the team were “extremely proud” of what Vision RT has achieved.