The People Behind Radiotherapy: Care, Compassion and Trust
Sharon Wong is Head of Diagnostic and Therapeutics Division of Singapore Institute of Technology and a World Radiotherapy Awareness Day Regional Champion. Having spent more than ten years in the field, she has seen how radiotherapy can bring hope, reassurance and treatment options to patients and their families at some of the most difficult moments in their lives.
In a special interview, Sharon discusses the importance of helping people understand radiotherapy, recognising the professionals who deliver it and ensuring that every patient feels supported throughout treatment.
Helping patients feel less afraid
For many people, the first time they hear about radiotherapy is when they or someone they love needs it. At that point, they may already feel frightened and overwhelmed by a cancer diagnosis. Being asked to lie still beneath unfamiliar equipment, often alone in the treatment room, can feel intimidating. Clear explanations, compassion and reassurance can make a significant difference to that experience.
Sharon explains that patients may not remember every technical detail of their treatment, but they often remember how the people caring for them made them feel. They remember who greeted them each day, noticed when they were struggling and took the time to explain what was happening.
That human connection is an essential part of radiotherapy care.
Recognising the whole radiotherapy team
Modern radiotherapy is supported by increasingly sophisticated technology, but that technology is only one part of the story. Behind every treatment is a multidisciplinary team working together to plan, check and deliver care safely and accurately. This includes radiation therapists, clinical oncologists, medical physicists, dosimetrists, nurses and many other healthcare professionals.
Each person brings specialist knowledge and experience, but they also provide the reassurance and trust patients need throughout their treatment.
“Radiotherapy is highly precise, but it is also deeply human,” Sharon says. “Patients place a great deal of trust in us, often at a time when they are vulnerable and uncertain.”
Speaking up for radiotherapy
Sharon chose to support World Radiotherapy Awareness Day because radiotherapy is still not widely understood by the public. While many people are familiar with surgery and chemotherapy, radiotherapy can be less visible despite its vital role in cancer care. WRAD provides an opportunity to explain what radiotherapy involves, how it helps patients and the skill and teamwork required to deliver it. It also gives greater recognition to the professionals whose work often takes place quietly behind the scenes.
As a Regional Champion, Sharon wants to use her experience in patient care, education and research to support greater awareness and encourage professional pride. She also hopes to inspire students and early-career radiation therapists to see themselves as advocates for their patients and their profession.
Supporting awareness and access across Asia
Sharon’s role is particularly important in the region she represents. Across parts of Asia, access to radiotherapy remains uneven. Some patients must travel long distances to reach treatment centres, while shortages of trained professionals and limited public awareness can create further barriers. Based in Singapore and connected with colleagues across the region, Sharon sees advocacy as an important part of improving understanding and supporting better access to care.
She hopes her work as a Regional Champion will encourage more open, clear and patient-centred conversations about radiotherapy. Most of all, she wants patients and families to feel less afraid because they understand what treatment involves and know there will be a skilled, compassionate team supporting them.
Watch the full interview with Sharon Wong below.
If your interested in becoming a Regional Champion we would love to hear from you.
