World Radiotherapy Awareness Day 2026
One voice for radiotherapy
Across the globe, the number of cancer diagnoses is increasing, leading to growing demand for radiotherapy. An estimated 10 million new patients required radiotherapy in 2022, with this figure projected to rise to 21 million by 2050.1
The radiotherapy workforce will need to grow significantly to support this projected need, with estimates indicating the need for an additional:1
- 84,000 radiation oncologists
- 47,000 medical physicists
- 141,000 radiation therapists
The driving force behind WRAD
The driving force behind WRAD: born from the growing recognition that radiotherapy is one of the most effective yet underutilised cancer treatments worldwide.2,3 In Australia, it is estimated that one in five cancer patients who should receive radiotherapy in line with best practice care does not receive it. An estimated that 62% of eligible prostate cancer patients and 48% of eligible lung cancer patients, do not receive radiotherapy.2,3
Led by WRAD Committee Chairs Prof Sandra Turner and Dr Katie Wakeham, a global coalition of radiation and clinical oncology professionals, patients and campaigners has united to support this historic initiative. Among them is Dr Lucinda Morris, a radiation oncologist who is passionate about improving global cancer outcomes, a founding co-chair of the Targeting Cancer campaign and a member of the global WRAD Committee.
Objectives and global urgency
Radiotherapy remains undervalued, underfunded and poorly understood by the public and healthcare professionals alike. WRAD highlights critical sector challenges - including limited access in low- and middle-income countries, workforce shortages and persistent myths about treatment - to spark conversation and drive systemic change.
- Raise awareness: Inform communities about the critical role of radiotherapy in cancer care.
- Improve access: Highlight and reduce global inequities in treatment availability.
- Educate: Inform healthcare professionals, patients and policymakers about evidence-based practice.
- Support the workforce: Recognise essential radiotherapy professions and advocate for the expansion of the skilled workforce.
Why WRAD held on September 7?
7 September marks the anniversary of the first patient treated using a modern linear accelerator at Hammersmith Hospital in London in 1953—a young boy with retinoblastoma. Holding WRAD on this date honours the beginning of precision radiotherapy while reinforcing that equitable access to cancer care is a global priority requiring unified action.
More about Radiotherapy
Visit our Radiation Therapy pages for more information about this treatment
- Zhu, H., Chua, M. L. K., Chitapanarux, I., Kaidar-Person, O., Mwaba, C., Alghamdi, M., ... & Abdel-Wahab, M. (2024). Global radiotherapy demands and corresponding radiotherapy-professional workforce requirements in 2022 and predicted to 2050: a population-based study. The Lancet Global Health, 12(12), e1945-e1953.
- EvoHealth. (2022). Shining a light: Radiotherapy cancer treatment in Australia. Evohealth white paper. (accessed August 2026).
- Radiation Oncology Access Coalition. (n.d.) Role of Radiation Therapy (accessed August 2026).
