World Radiotherapy Awareness Day

WRAD

03 December 2024

Why have a World Radiotherapy Awareness Day (WRAD)?

Radiotherapy plays a vital role in curing and controlling cancer, alleviating cancer-related symptoms and improving quality of life. Access to radiotherapy is directly linked to improved overall survival and other positive outcomes for a wide range of cancers. Radiotherapy is also a highly cost-effective cancer treatment.

There are big regional and national differences in patients accessing radiotherapy. Causes include inadequacy/absence of services and geographical/referral problems. Lack of awareness and understanding of the value of radiotherapy - by patients, health professionals, the general community and government decision-makers - is a major reason for patients missing out.

What will it do?

Awareness days are effective opportunities to focus community, media and government attention on important local and global issues. World days highlight common challenges and amplify individual efforts so that key messages are heard by all who need to hear them. Awareness days make change more likely!

You may already be involved at some level with advocacy efforts to promote radiotherapy for the benefit of our patients. We are not suggesting you stop! WRAD can make your voice more powerful.

Who is leading WRAD?

The foundation for WRAD has been laid by a few enthusiasts – radiation/clinical oncology professionals, patients and campaigners – who have joined to start making the Day happen. In the future WRAD will belong to everyone. The launch will be in 2025.

Currently we are growing our support base. We need you/your organisations to join in creating and promoting the Day to make it a success. There’ll be support, coordination and resources provided to help you get involved. You will shape your messages to align with your own environments and needs. We encourage everyone’s input to key elements: the date, the overarching theme for 2025, and the logo.

Why join?

Many voices are louder than one. Many voices from all parts of the world at the same time are loudest of all. For some of you, the Day will enhance your current advocacy efforts. For others, it will provide guidance and resources to get involved.

To register your interest, take part in planning events and hear about what’s next, sign up using the QR code.

For more information email admin@globalradiotherapy.org

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