Press release posted 21 August 2025
In April 2025, Suzanne Lagan, aged 38, achieved a significant personal and professional milestone, qualifying, via an apprenticeship route, as a fully-registered diagnostic radiographer at Manchester’s specialist cancer centre, The Christie.
For Suzanne, who lives in Eccles with her husband, Kyle, and their 2 children, the achievement marked the culmination of more than a decade of hard work, dedication, and continuous learning, much of it supported and nurtured by The Christie.
Her qualification is not only a testament to Suzanne's determination and resilience, but also to The Christie's commitment to developing its staff. Through a tailored apprenticeship route, access to academic and clinical support, and a culture that values growth at all levels, The Christie has played a crucial role in helping Suzanne reach her full potential.
Suzanne has progressed from beginning as a radiographic aide, to the role of assistant practitioner and is now a fully qualified radiographer via an apprenticeship.
“The Christie has been with me every step of the way,” says Suzanne. “From helping me gain my initial healthcare qualifications to supporting me through the final year of my apprenticeship, I couldn’t have done it without the people here.”
Now working across X-ray, CT scanning, and interventional radiology, Suzanne is fully immersed in her new role, one she never dared to dream would be hers when she joined the organisation 14 years ago.
Her journey to this point has been far from straightforward, but it reflects her deep commitment to patient care and a belief in the value of what she does. Her story also demonstrates how The Christie is actively investing in people and opening doors for anyone with a passion to progress in healthcare.
Suzanne began her career in beauty therapy, working at a salon in Withington. While training, she became more interested in the anatomy and physiology elements than the beauty treatments. That interest sparked a desire to pursue a career in healthcare, and in 2010, she attended a career open day at The Christie. She knew nursing wasn't for her, but she was invited to spend a week in the radiotherapy department, an experience that left a lasting impression.
After researching the differences between radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging, she concluded that diagnostics was where her strengths and interests lay. When a vacancy for a radiographic aide in the radiology department came up in 2011, she joined The Christie.
Over the next 9 years, Suzanne built up significant practical experience in CT and ultrasound, supporting patients and clinicians with pre-scan preparation, including oral preparation, cannula insertion, checking blood tests, assisting patients with changing, chaperoning them, and setting up the procedure room.
“Even then, I was fascinated by how the quality of an image could influence someone’s diagnosis or treatment plan,” she recalls. “It wasn’t just about pressing buttons - it was about making clinical decisions that impact patient care.”
Despite her aptitude and drive, Suzanne faced several barriers. Undiagnosed dyslexia meant she’d struggled at school and left without key GCSEs in maths and English, typically needed for further healthcare study. With The Christie’s backing, she completed The Christie Care certificate and an NVQ Level 3 in healthcare in 2016, which provided the foundation for her to apply for more advanced training.
In 2019, Suzanne was appointed to the role of assistant practitioner in radiology and enrolled on an assistant practitioner apprenticeship. This enabled her to carry out X-rays under clinical protocols. She was the first person in diagnostic radiology at The Christie to follow this route, a model already tested in radiotherapy, but new to imaging.
The apprenticeship route suited her well. “I had a house, a family, and bills to pay. Going to university full-time wasn’t an option. The apprenticeship meant I could continue working, gain qualifications, and build experience at the same time.” With support from her clinical tutors and colleagues, she navigated the two-year programme, eventually topping it up with an additional 18 months of study to qualify as a fully registered radiographer.
Balancing study, work, and family life was a challenge, and there were moments when she nearly walked away. However, the support she received from Christie colleagues, such as Sarah Simpson and Kim Nicholson, as well as many other colleagues across the department, from consultants to cleaners, kept her going.
Now fully qualified as a diagnostic radiographer, Suzanne's role is more demanding, but also more fulfilling. She is responsible not only for carrying out different types of imaging but also for ensuring that the small doses of radiation used to generate images are safe and clinically justified. Suzanne works within strict clinical protocols and flags any urgent findings with a patient’s consultant. “It’s a big step up, but I was ready for it,” she said. “The Christie helped me build the skills and confidence I needed to make the leap.”
More than anything, Suzanne is driven by her connection to the patients. “You meet patients at all stages of their cancer journey. Some are frightened, some are tired, and often you’re the person they confide in because they don’t want to burden their families or aren’t ready to speak to a consultant. Being there to support them is such a privilege.”
Her exposure to different types of imaging has also broadened her understanding of the patient journey. “I used to see only the diagnostic side. But working in interventional radiology has helped me appreciate what comes after – the treatments, the decisions, the emotions. It's made me more empathetic and more focused on what matters most."
Suzanne is currently completing her preceptorship, consolidating her experience across different imaging areas. Looking ahead, she hopes to explore postgraduate study or develop a specialist role. She’s also already supporting student radiographers and hopes to mentor others who are following in her footsteps along the assistant practitioner apprenticeship route, sharing her experiences and helping colleagues overcome the same doubts she once had.
Her advice to others considering a similar path is: “Don’t be put off by the thought of academic work, you’ll be supported. And make sure you’ve experienced the work you are hoping to do before committing to study – even a day in the relevant team can help you understand what’s involved. But if you’re passionate, go for it. It’s hard work, but it’s absolutely worth it.”
“If you're interested in working in healthcare, especially in imaging, don’t let fears about studying or age or background put you off. The Christie will support you every step of the way - just like they did for me.”
Suzanne’s line manager at The Christie Sarah Simpson, and Advanced Practice Reporting Radiographer and Clinical Tutor added: “Suzanne is an outstanding example of what’s possible when someone with passion and commitment is given the right environment to grow. She’s overcome personal and academic barriers with remarkable resilience. Watching her develop into a confident and capable radiographer is very rewarding.
“There are so many different roles here, and if you’ve got the right mindset and the motivation to learn, The Christie is an incredible place to grow your career.”
The Christie is proud to support career development through routes such as apprenticeships, clinical placements, and ongoing professional education. As Suzanne's story shows, working in healthcare can be both professionally fulfilling and personally meaningful.
For Suzanne, The Christie has been more than a workplace; it's been a supportive environment in which she has discovered her potential. From radiographic aide to registered radiographer, her story reflects the value of investing in people and the power of believing in yourself, with the proper support behind you.