Cancer is a major global public health challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where nearly 70% of cancer-related deaths occur and access to specialized care is limited.
As we mark World Cancer Day, let's look at how nuclear science and technology are offering hope to cancer patients in underserved regions through the IAEA Rays of Hope initiative.
Since its launch in 2022 by IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, Rays of Hope has procured more than 90 items of diagnostic and treatment equipment for low- and middle-income countries, including ten linear accelerators and 55 mammography machines. Over 100 countries have joined Rays of Hope, and the initiative has raised more than EUR 90 million in extrabudgetary funds to support cancer care in low- and middle-income countries.
In addition, 18 Anchor Centres have been established, delivering training to more than 700 oncology professionals across all regions in the safe and optimal use of radiation medicine.
"Rays of Hope is changing the reality on the ground and is a concrete example of how the IAEA delivers," said IAEA Director General Grossi. "Hospitals are being built, technology is being transferred, but we can still do more to bring cancer care closer to people that need it the most."
The IAEA is expanding access to nuclear medicine and cancer treatment in low- and middle-income countries, supporting care to patients around the world with little or no access to treatment (Photo: IAEA).
Giving Patients a Fighting Chance
According to the latest International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) estimates, 10 million people died from cancer and this number is expected to nearly double by 2045. Multiple factors, including aging populations, environmental and lifestyle risk factors, drive the rise in cases.
Radiotherapy is needed to treat more than half of all cancer patients, yet access to this essential tool remains uneven. Rays of Hope was launched in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with an initial focus on Africa, given that many countries in the continent still do not have a single radiotherapy machine.
Malawi was among the first countries to benefit from the effort and opened the doors of its first public radiotherapy center in July 2025 at the Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe.
"The new National Cancer Centre has been a game changer for specialized care in Malawi," Dr. Leo Masamba, clinical oncologist at the Centre, said. "We have treated over 100 patients in the first six months alone, with many more scheduled for treatment ahead."
In Africa, the initiative is also supporting the establishment or expansion of national radiotherapy centers in Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Senegal, Togo and Zambia, and expanding radiotherapy care in the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Mexico and Paraguay in Latin America.
Malawi's new facility has 4 radiotherapy bunkers, 2 brachytherapy bunkers, 2 linear accelerators, 1 cobalt-60 unit, 1 computed tomography simulator and 1 brachytherapy suite. (Photo: M. Kumwembe/Kamazu Central Hospital, Lilongwe)
Early Detection Saves Lives
Nuclear medicine and imaging techniques are indispensable for the early detection of tumors, giving patients a much better chance at treatment and reducing mortality.
With an estimated 2.3 million cases every year, breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women globally. Regular mammograms can detect the disease early, before symptoms appear.
Rays of Hope is deploying 55 mammography units to Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, bridging a major gap in diagnostic imaging and benefitting thousands of women.
Hospital Nacional Nuestra Señora de Fátima in Cojutepeque, El Salvador, was one of the first to receive the IAEA mammography machines. The facility services the Cuscatlán and neighboring departments and is now able to screen over 20 women per month for breast cancer. "Since July 2025, 137 women have benefited from the service and 3% had highly suggestive findings of malignancy. They were immediately referred to specialized care, strengthening early care and continuity of treatment," the hospital management said.
The initiative is also expanding nuclear medicine services in Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Senegal and Togo. Jordan inaugurated a PET-CT scanner at Al-Bashir Hospital in early 2025 - the first advanced nuclear medicine diagnostic equipment in a public hospital in the country, expected to benefit over 500 patients.
Inauguration of new PET-CT equipment at Al-Bashir Hospital in Jordan in February 2025. (Photo: S. Taher/Al-Bashir Hospital Department of Nuclear Medicine).
Laying Foundations for Radiation Safety and Security
In addition to equipment and training, Rays of Hope helps countries lay the safety and security foundations required for quality radiation medicine, placing patient protection at the centre. Support includes quality audits, expert missions and technical guidance.
Expanding Partnerships
The initiative also supports assessments of national cancer control capacities through imPACT Reviews , and brokers partnerships with governments, academia, private sector companies and financial institutions to help middle-income countries unlock resources for these essential services.
In 2025, the IAEA received a linear accelerator donated by Varian under Rays of Hope to be installed at the Black Lion Hospital in Ethiopia, while Djibouti and Uzbekistan secured loans from the Islamic Development Bank to establish or expand radiation medicine services.
Sustainability and Innovation in Cancer Care
Spread across four regions, Rays of Hope Anchor Centres support the delivery of IAEA technical cooperation through training in oncology and medical physics and promote research to ensure the best use of limited resources.
Several new Coordinated Research Projects (CRPs) in cancer care will be carried out with Anchor Centres to strengthen clinical practice and support programme delivery under Rays of Hope. The recently launched CRP on computed tomography-based prostate cancer contouring guided by AI verification represents a critical step in the radiotherapy planning process and all 18 Anchor Centres were invited to participate.
Anchor Centres also contribute data to the Sustainable United Network for Radiation Medicine Innovation and Scientific Excellence (SUNRISE) - a global database designed to compile robust, time-sensitive data from cancer centres to measure and demonstrate the impact of improvements in radiation medicine, with a focus on sustainability and cost-efficiency.
More than 500 professionals have taken part in in-person workshops organized at these hubs, with an additional 200 participating online.
Oncologists in Asia learned about advanced treatment techniques, such as ultra-hypofractionated radiotherapy, which reduces treatment time and costs, and theranostics, a combined method to diagnose and treat tumours using radiopharmaceuticals.
In Europe, Central Asia and Latin America, radiation medicine professionals exchanged best practices in paediatric oncology to improve cancer care for children.
To support long‑term sustainability, the IAEA continue to provide targeted training to the Anchor Centres, equipping the network to extend expertise and support to neighbouring countries.
"Shortly after joining Rays of Hope as an Anchor Centre, we participated in an IAEA workshop on developing standardized training for gynaecological cancers and received virtual-reality tools from the Agency to practise brachytherapy procedures. This support has enabled us to adopt a more structured and harmonized training approach, which we now extend to professionals across our region through our Anchor Centre," said Dr. Umesh Mahantshetty, a radiation oncologist from Tata Memorial Centre.
Radiotherapy is an important treatment option for patients. (Photo: D. Calma/IAEA)
