Cancer is rapidly becoming one of the major health problems in the world. The Global Burden of Disease study published in the Lancet in 2012 documented 52.8 million deaths in the world in 2010. Most were due to non-communicable diseases with heart disease being the most common cause. In 2010, there were 8.2 million deaths from cancer in the world and this represented a 38% increase from the number in 1990. It is projected that the number of new cases will grow from 14.1 million in 2010 to about 23 million in 2030. The global health community is starting to look at cancer. However, cancer is perceived as a complex set of diseases, extremely difficult to and expensive to manage. Therefore to date, the emphasis has shifted to prevention and palliation.

Almost one third of all cancer cases in the world could be prevented. However, of cancers that are currently not preventable, many are curable and treatable. Breast cancer is rapidly becoming a global health issue. Early detection and treatment can prevent many cancer deaths and return patients to productive lives. Therefore, we must advocate for improved access to early detection, appropriate diagnosis and high quality treatment for cancer.

Radiation therapy (also called ‘radiotherapy’) benefits more than 50% of all cancer patients during the course of their disease. With numerous priorities in global health and cancer, radiation therapy eludes the world’s attention. Considered unaffordable by many and too complicated by some, radiation therapy rarely gets mentioned as a priority in global cancer control conversations. Yet, there is an astounding lack of equity in access to radiation therapy globally. For example, in Africa 29 of 52 countries have no radiation therapy facilities at all and many countries have inadequate resources. This compromised access results in many preventable deaths and suffering. We must place radiation oncology on the global health and global cancer agenda.