Hear from ASTRO President Dr Neha Vapiwala: Why Radiotherapy Awareness Matters
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Dr Neha Vapiwala, radiation oncologist and President of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), shares why greater understanding of radiotherapy matters and what it will take to improve access worldwide.
Radiotherapy is a vital part of cancer care, yet it remains widely misunderstood. For World Radiotherapy Awareness Day (WRAD), Dr Neha Vapiwala joins the global conversation to explain why awareness is so important for patients, families and communities.
In this interview, Dr Vapiwala reflects on the role of WRAD, challenges one of the persistent misconceptions surrounding radiotherapy and considers how better information can help patients take a more active role in conversations about their treatment. She also looks beyond individual experiences to the wider challenge of ensuring that safe, high-quality radiotherapy is available to everyone who needs it.
‘As a radiation oncologist I have dedicated my career to the safe and effective use of radiotherapy to treat and in many cases cure cancer, I know what radiotherapy can do to help people with cancer at all stages. That is why I am proud to support World Radiotherapy Awareness Day.’
Bringing radiotherapy into the conversation
For many people, radiotherapy only becomes familiar when they or someone close to them is diagnosed with cancer. Even then, uncertainty about what treatment involves can create unnecessary fear. Clear, accessible information can help replace that uncertainty with a more realistic understanding of how radiotherapy is planned, delivered and used as part of modern cancer care.
That is why a shared day of awareness matters. WRAD brings patients, professionals, organisations and advocates together with one voice: to make radiotherapy better understood, to recognise the teams who deliver it and to highlight its importance within cancer care around the world.
Challenging misconceptions
Misconceptions can shape how patients feel about radiotherapy before they have had the opportunity to speak with their clinical team. Dr Vapiwala highlights the importance of challenging outdated ideas and helping people understand radiotherapy as a precise and continually advancing treatment.
Awareness is not about presenting radiotherapy as the right option for every patient. It is about ensuring that people know it may be an option and feel able to ask informed questions. When patients understand the purpose of a treatment, what to expect and where to find reliable support, they can approach decisions with greater confidence.
Supporting informed treatment discussions
Good communication is central to patient-centred cancer care. Patients need information that is accurate, understandable and relevant to their individual circumstances, together with the opportunity to discuss possible benefits, side effects and alternatives with their care team.
By improving public understanding before treatment is needed, we can make those conversations easier. We can also help families and caregivers feel better prepared to support the person they care about.
Improving access worldwide
Awareness alone cannot solve unequal access, but it can help build the momentum needed for change. Improving access to safe, high-quality radiotherapy requires sustained investment in equipment, infrastructure, education and a skilled workforce. It also depends on collaboration across borders and between professional societies, healthcare providers, policymakers, patient groups and industry.
By speaking openly about both the value of radiotherapy and the gaps that remain, the global community can strengthen the case for radiotherapy to be included in cancer-control planning and available as part of equitable, high-quality cancer care.
Watch the full interview
Watch the full video to hear directly from Dr Neha Vapiwala about why World Radiotherapy Awareness Day matters, the misconceptions she would like to challenge, the importance of informed patient conversations and the action needed to improve access worldwide.
Join us for World Radiotherapy Awareness Day on 7 September. Share your activity and explore the WRAD resources.
