A Rising Global Incidence Rate
This year alone, there will be around 20 million new cancer cases worldwide. By 2050 that number is expected to climb at a rate that goes far beyond that of global population growth. With it, the demand for multiplying treatment options is also growing day by day.
Expanding the Radiotherapy Toolbox
Progress in cancer care won’t come from one technology replacing all others. It will come from expanding the toolbox we have, and using each where it makes the most sense. Despite an incredible innovation in cancer treatment, some tools were never “outdated”, they were simply under-used, or judged through the lens of yesterday’s limitations.
Think about the bicycle: it wasn’t made obsolete by cars or planes. It became more valuable in the contexts where it’s unbeatable (dense cities, short distances, low carbon footprint). The world didn’t pick a universal mode of transport; it expanded the toolbox to cater to specific needs.
In radiotherapy, electrons are a clear example of how changing the tempo and dynamics of a familiar instrument can lead to a world of possibilities. Long associated with narrow use cases, electron beams are being re-examined through the lens of innovation in ultra-high dose rate (UHDR) delivery. When paired with FLASH, they offer the potential to do more with what we already know, while opening the door to future applications, including deeper targets.
More Solutions to a Growing Problem
As cancer cases increase, the question is not whether we need innovation, it’s whether we are willing to broaden our thinking about the tools available and let each one play to its strengths.
On World Cancer Day, progress means expanding our options, not narrowing them. Because the rising global burden of cancer demands more than one answer.
Find out more about FLASH radiotherapy here.