ESTRO 2025 - Abstract Book

S16

Invited Speaker

ESTRO 2025

Purpose/Objective Radiotherapy is vital for curing and controlling cancer, alleviating symptoms, and improving quality of life. Access to radiotherapy is directly linked to improved survival and for many cancers. It is also a highly cost-effective cancer treatment. However, significant regional and national disparities in access exist due to inadequate services, geographical barriers, insufficient workforce and lack of awareness among patients, health professionals, and policymakers. The purpose of creating a radiotherapy awareness day is to provide a platform and opportunity for the global radiotherapy community to focus the general public, media and government attention on radiotherapy.

Material/Methods A foundational event for World Radiotherapy Awareness Day (WRAD) to announce the concept was held on November 14, 2024, during London Global Cancer Week. A subsequent planning meeting was held on the 14th March, 2025, during which the WRAD logo, theme and date of the first WRAD was announced. The events were both in-person and virtual, running over two time periods to enhance global accessibility. Through surveys before and throughout the events, the organisers encouraged input on key elements such as the date, themes, logo, and engagement initiatives. Major professional radiotherapy societies were approached to understand the society’s medium and long-term goals for joining the WRAD movement, how the organisation would pledge support and get involved. Results The two meetings included over 800 virtual and in-person registrants, plus nearly 100 livestream views, coming from over 100 countries. The campaigns tag line was chosen as “One Voice for Radiotherapy”. The logo was revealed. The date of the first WRAD was announced as the 7 th September 2025, which is the date the first linear accelerator treatment was given to a patient. The timeline for key milestones were presented as follows; social media channels and website, May 2025, publish translated WRAD advocacy/media toolkit, June 2025, calendar of global community WRAD Events on website, July 2025, countdown to WRAD, August 2025. Conclusion Next steps include securing sustainable funding to support WRAD campaigns from 2025-2027, focusing on virtual and in-person initiatives. Events are being planned at major radiotherapy society and conference events. Building on partnerships with all radiotherapy sectors will be critical to ensuring long-term commitment and impact. WRAD’s global reach and inclusive approach position it as a unifying movement to champion the lifesaving potential of radiotherapy.