U.S. and European radiation oncology societies marked World Cancer Day on February 4 with a joint statement to raise awareness of the benefits of radiotherapy.
“On this World Cancer Day, the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) together call for greater awareness of what today’s radiotherapy offers to patients and the global health care system,” the societies stated.
Today’s radiotherapy is a far more precise, effective, and patient-centered treatment than ever before, according to the groups. However, public perception has not always kept pace with this scientific and clinical progress. This disconnect can contribute to underestimation of radiation oncology’s role within health systems, affecting support for research, infrastructure planning, and equitable access to the latest technologies, ASTRO and ESTRO said.
“On World Cancer Day, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that the remarkable progress achieved in radiation oncology is fully recognized, fully supported, and fully accessible -- for the benefit of all people with cancer worldwide,” the groups noted.
