Radiation therapy, or radiotherapy, is a branch of medicine that focuses on the use of radiation to target and kill cancer cells.
The global cancer burden continues to increase with an expected 28.4 million cases in 2040, and a larger increase in developing (64% to 95%) versus developed (32% to 56%) countries. 80% of the world’s cancer patients are in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs) but have access to only 5% of global radiotherapy resources. To address the shortage of cancer treatment resources in low- and middle-income countries, the IAEA provides expertise in radiation oncology and cooperates with a variety of stakeholders, including other United Nations organizations, hospitals, governments, and research institutes. The IAEA also promotes and coordinates research in clinical radiation oncology and applied radiation biology. Technical expertise in these fields is provided through technical cooperation projects which directly address cancer management in many countries around the world. Member States receive assistance in modernizing and establishing new radiotherapy facilities, brachytherapy services, new technologies and education programmes.
