Lucinda Morris Features WRAD at ISRS: Turning Patient Partnership into Change

At the International Society of Stereotactic Radiosurgery (ISRS), Associate Professor Lucinda Morris shared a powerful message: when patients are supported to tell their stories, they can help improve care, promote innovation and influence health policy.

Lucinda is a radiation oncologist at Sydney West Radiation Oncology Network. Alongside her clinical work, she has played a leading role in radiotherapy advocacy, including as a founding Co-Chair of the Targeting Cancer campaign and a global committee member of World Radiotherapy Awareness Day (WRAD).

During her presentation, Lucinda explored how clinicians, patients and advocacy organisations can work together to communicate the value of radiotherapy and radiosurgery more effectively. 

Why patient stories matter

Clinical evidence, research and data are essential, but they do not always connect with audiences outside healthcare. Patient stories bring that evidence to life. They help people understand why an issue matters, create a sense of urgency and make complex information more memorable. Lucinda explained that some of the most successful advocacy campaigns have happened when clinicians have stepped back and allowed patients to lead the conversation.

One example came from Targeting Cancer’s campaign to improve awareness of treatment options for men with localised prostate cancer. Its aim was to ensure that, before deciding on treatment, every man had the opportunity to explore all available options, including discussing radiotherapy with a radiation oncologist.

A patient named David shared his experience of initially being offered surgery without being told about radiotherapy. After seeking a radiation oncology opinion, he changed his treatment decision. His story helped move the issue from an individual experience to national media coverage, professional discussion and engagement with policymakers.

Helping important stories reach wider audiences

Lucinda also offered practical advice for working with the media. Messages should be simple, clear and free from unnecessary clinical language. Short videos can be particularly effective, while timing a story around an awareness day or relevant news moment may increase interest.

For research and innovation stories, she recommended bringing together a “golden triangle”: an important innovation, a clinician who can explain its significance and a patient who can show why it matters.

Patient stories can powerfully demonstrate the impact of radiotherapy and radiosurgery. By building genuine partnerships with patients and supporting them to share their experiences, the radiotherapy community can increase understanding, challenge misconceptions and help more people access the treatment they need.

As Lucinda concluded, the most powerful advocacy tool is not a machine, publication or trial result. It is a patient willing to share their story.

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