At the recent BIR Conference in London, Dr. Katie Wakeham delivered a compelling talk that underscored the vital role of radiotherapy in cancer treatment. One of the key highlights of her presentation was the launch of World Radiotherapy Awareness Day (WRAD) , an initiative aimed at increasing global awareness of radiotherapy's impact on cancer care. Why World Radiotherapy Awareness Day Matters Radiotherapy plays a critical role in cancer treatment, contributing to the cure of around 40% of cancers  and being a necessary part of treatment for approximately half of all cancer patients . Despite its significance, radiotherapy often remains overlooked in national cancer control plans and underrepresented in policy discussions. WRAD was established to bridge this gap, providing a platform for professionals, policymakers, and the public to recognize and advocate for the essential role of radiotherapy. The day serves as a call to action to: Highlight the importance of equitable access to radiotherapy services worldwide. Educate stakeholders on the cost-effectiveness and life-saving potential of radiotherapy. Advocate for stronger policy integration of radiotherapy. Celebrate the contributions of radiotherapy professionals and innovations in the field. A Global Call for Change Dr. Wakeham emphasized that 3 billion people worldwide live in countries with no access to radiotherapy or without a structured radiotherapy plan in place. This stark reality reinforces the urgent need for awareness and coordinated global action. She highlighted key disparities in access, noting that while high-income countries might have five to ten radiotherapy machines per million people, some low-income regions operate with just one machine for millions . This disparity is especially concerning in regions where cancers that rely heavily on radiotherapy—such as cervical and nasopharyngeal cancers—are most prevalent. Mobilizing the Global Community As part of the awareness campaign, WRAD will be recognized through educational events, global collaborations, and advocacy efforts at key international oncology and radiotherapy conferences, including ALATRO, AORTIC, ASTRO, CACA, ESTRO, FARO, MESTRO, PROS, RCR, and SIOP. How You Can Get Involved The success of WRAD depends on widespread engagement from healthcare professionals, policymakers, patient advocacy groups, and the general public. Here’s how you can contribute: Spread the Word:  Share information about WRAD on social media and within professional networks. Engage in Policy Discussions:  Advocate for stronger radiotherapy inclusion in national healthcare policies. Support Local and Global Initiatives:  Collaborate with organizations working to improve radiotherapy access. Attend WRAD Events:  Participate in discussions, webinars, and conferences to learn more about the latest advancements in radiotherapy. Looking Ahead The launch of World Radiotherapy Awareness Day marks a significant step in ensuring that radiotherapy gets the attention it deserves in global cancer care strategies. As Dr. Wakeham aptly stated, the lack of awareness at the policy level is a critical barrier to progress. WRAD seeks to break this cycle by educating, advocating, and mobilizing action to make radiotherapy accessible for all who need it. Learn more about WRAD on our website and/or follow the campaign online. Together, we can work towards a world where no cancer patient is denied access to life-saving radiotherapy.

Ahead of World Radiotherapy Awareness Day, students at the University of Sydney Westmead School had the opportunity to participate in an interactive radiation oncology workshop. One student who attended the workshop, Dana Miller, said: “It was such an amazing experience learning about radiotherapy and the most fun part of the cancer teaching ‘block'! My friend and I want to spend more time shadowing a radiation oncologist to learn more. Radiotherapy is fascinating!”  Traditionally, radiotherapy is underrepresented in medical student curricula compared to other cancer treatments. 1,2  This gap in training prompted the beginning of this workshop at the University a few years ago. The aim was to ensure students had an adequate level of knowledge to help their patients in the future.  The Importance of Radiotherapy Education   All health professionals should know the basics about modern radiotherapy, especially doctors, who will inevitably come into contact with patients with cancer. At least half of people with cancer need radiotherapy so all doctors need some knowledge of this treatment as central to cancer care. They will either refer people for radiotherapy, support them before, during, or after radiotherapy, and/or look after cancer patients on the ward, in the community, or presenting to Emergency with problems requiring radiotherapy. Some will even train as radiation oncologists! An Interactive Experience Students come into the radiation oncology department to physically see the steps in radiotherapy planning and treatment, including seeing first-hand the amazing equipment in action and meeting the radiotherapy professional team members. A study showed that the students loved all aspects of the education session and that it clearly improved their knowledge around radiotherapy. 3   Prof. Sandra Turner said:  “Once we’d demonstrated the value of the workshop, it was impossible for it not  to be cemented into the medical student curriculum going forward. Students can see the power and sophistication of modern radiotherapy as a highly effective cancer treatment. They interact with people having radiotherapy who are mostly well outpatients. They also witness the wonderful team-based nature of radiation oncology. It is a great activity for staff morale as well to see the enthusiasm of these young future doctors.” Based on the positive feedback it became a compulsory part of the medical school training and was replicated in all the five teaching hospitals aligned with the University.  Alison Brown, who is an experienced Radiation Therapist and Quality Assurance Expert, helps coordinate the workshop ‘stations’. She reflects:  “It is such a good opportunity for us to be able to show students directly what an advanced-high-tech treatment radiotherapy is and for them to understand the crucial role that the whole team has in ensuring people are treated safely and with compassion.” Currently there are around 300 students per year going through the workshop, and other universities are following suit. Looking forward to the launch of World Radiotherapy Awareness Day this year, students were asked at the end of the recent workshop if they would like to help us celebrate this event. They were delighted! To reiterate Dana’s sentiment “Radiotherapy is fascinating!”   Chelvarajah, R., Windsor, A., Nicholls, L. et al.  Junior Doctor Evaluation of Radiation Oncology Education and Training in Medical Schools and Prevocational Training in Australia. J Canc Educ  36, 646–651 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-019-01678-0     Bravery, B.D., Shi, K., Nicholls, L. et al.  Oncology and Radiation Oncology Awareness in Final Year Medical Students in Australia and New Zealand. J Canc Educ  35, 1227–1236 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-019-01586-3    Swanton C, Morris L, Agustin C, Brown A, Turner S. Improving medical student education in radiation oncology: Integrating and evaluating an experiential interdisciplinary workshop into the medical student curriculum. J Med Imaging Radiat Oncol. 2022 Aug;66(5):688-693. doi: 10.1111/1754-9485.13392. Epub 2022 Mar 6. PMID: 35253393.

The first official meeting to establish a World Radiotherapy Awareness Day (WRAD) took place at Conway Hall during London Global Cancer Week. Remarkably, this same venue hosted a significant event 81 years earlier. In 1943, Lord Bevan, the founder of the National Health Service (NHS), participated in a meeting at Conway Hall, which is regarded as a pivotal moment in the establishment of the NHS. At this historic location in 2024, radiotherapy advocates gathered from around the world to help support and shape this new WRAD initiative.  Solomon Kibudde,  Uganda Cancer Inst.  spoke at the session and shared a statement on behalf of the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC): “Today we are excited to be founding partners of the world radiotherapy awareness day, as it serves as a pivotal platform to: Raise awareness and highlight the critical role of radiotherapy in cancer treatment, and existing disparities in access across Africa. It serves to advocate for investment in radiotherapy infrastructure, workforce development and patient access.  It's a day to educate communities, governments, and international stakeholders about the life-saving power of radiotherapy in cancer care and to highlight the urgent need to bridge the equity gap in access.  And lastly to foster collaboration, promote partnerships among African nations and global stakeholders, to share resources, knowledge, and best practices.” Society Representatives We were honored to hear from representatives and receive support from the following societies: Watch the full recording of the Creating a World Radiotherapy Awareness Day session:

The WRAD Committee held a virtual planning meeting on 14 March 2025, to support the global initiative for World Radiotherapy Awareness Day . The meeting brought together experts and stakeholders in radiation oncology to discuss the objectives, challenges, and milestones leading up to this significant event. Key Announcements One of the most exciting moments of the meeting was the announcement of World Radiotherapy Awareness Day, which will officially take place on 7 September!  Additionally, the WRAD website ( worldradiotherapy.org ) was unveiled, which will provide a dedicated platform for updates, resources, and ways to get involved. A newly designed WRAD logo and the theme “One Voice for Radiotherapy” were also introduced, emphasizing the collective effort to highlight the importance of radiotherapy in cancer care. Join the Movement The success of World Radiotherapy Awareness Day depends on collective engagement. To stay informed and get involved, visit   worldradiotherapy.org  and register your email for updates. Mark your calendars for 7 September 2025, and be part of the global effort to make a difference in cancer care! Follow #WRAD and #WorldRTDay for the latest.

We’re pleased to share that WRAD has been featured in the latest edition of ASTROnews . The article highlights our efforts to provide a platform for the global radiotherapy community to direct attention to the vital importance of radiotherapy. Read the full article here:  One Voice for Radiotherapy  Jeff White, Director of Public Relations & Strategic Communications for ASTRO said:  “My understanding of radiation therapy was limited to what I’d learned on the job over the last few years.  But in 2023, my understanding changed dramatically and became first-hand knowledge as I was diagnosed with cancer.  My colleagues and I at the American Society for Radiation Oncology are firm believers in educating the public about the power and impact of radiation therapy, and I know that I have radiation therapy to thank for curing my cancer."  We are grateful to ASTRO for helping share our message and expand the reach of our work. We’d love for you to feature WRAD in your own publication or newsletter. Contact us for more info.