Insight

Aug 16, 2025, 09:52

September 7 2025 Marks the First Ever World Radiotherapy Awareness Day

The global radiotherapy community is coming together to celebrate the inaugural World Radiotherapy Awareness Day (WRAD) on September 7, a landmark event aimed at raising global awareness of the critical role radiotherapy plays in cancer care.

Themed “One Voice for Radiotherapy,” this new annual awareness day will spotlight the life-saving power of radiotherapy and the urgent need to address global disparities in access. Radiotherapy is a crucial treatment modality in oncology, utilized across various age groups, including children, young adults, and older adults, for the management of diverse cancer types.

“Radiotherapy is one of the most effective and cost-efficient cancer treatments available, but despite this, millions of patients worldwide still lack access due to systemic, geographic and economic barriers. World Radiotherapy Awareness Day is our opportunity to speak with one voice – to raise awareness, educate the public, and advocate for equitable access to radiotherapy for all who need it,” said Katie Wakeham, WRAD Co-Chair.

The date, September 7, commemorates the first patient ever treated on a linear accelerator – an innovation that revolutionised cancer treatment. WRAD will be marked by live and virtual events, social media campaigns, and community engagement efforts to amplify the message of radiotherapy’s importance.

“This is more than a day – it’s a movement. We’ve seen incredible enthusiasm from professionals, patients, and partners alike. WRAD is about uniting our global community to ensure that radiotherapy is recognised, resourced, and accessible everywhere,” said Professor Sandra Turner, WRAD Co-Chair.

September 7 2025 Marks the First Ever World Radiotherapy Awareness Day

The WRAD initiative was first introduced during London Global Cancer Week in November 2024 and has since gained widespread support. A global planning meeting in March 2025 drew over 800 participants from around the world, including representatives from major radiotherapy societies such as ALATRO, AORTIC, ASTRO, CACA, ESTRO, FARO, MESTRO, PROS, RCR, and SIOP as well as patient advocates and industry sponsors.

“A global awareness day like WRAD is long overdue. It gives us a unified platform to educate, advocate, and inspire action to ensure every patient, no matter where they live, has access to this essential treatment,” Jeff White, Director of Public Relations at ASTRO, emphasised the urgency of the initiative.

September 7 2025 Marks the First Ever World Radiotherapy Awareness Day

A dedicated website, social media channels, and a WRAD Toolkit are being developed to help individuals, radiotherapy teams, and organisations plan their own awareness activities. WRAD will also be promoted at major oncology conferences throughout 2025.

To join the WRAD movement, sign up at worldradiotherapy.org and be part of this global effort to champion the lifesaving and life-improving potential of radiotherapy.