The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) congratulates President Joe Biden on completing his course of radiation therapy, which he recently marked by ringing the ceremonial bell alongside his radiation oncology care team.

“President Biden’s bell-ringing milestone underscores the vital role of radiation therapy in modern cancer care and is a powerful reminder of how many lives it helps improve,” said ASTRO President Neha Vapiwala, MD, FASTRO, the Eli J. Glatstein Endowed Professor of Radiation Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania who led the team that coordinated President Biden's treatments. “Today’s radiation treatments are more precise than ever before, allowing us to tailor care plans to each patient’s needs and offer them a highly effective treatment with less disruption to their daily life.”

“It’s inspiring to see such a visible example of hope and progress thanks to the power and precision of radiation therapy,” said Sameer Keole, MD, FASTRO, Chair of the ASTRO Board of Directors. “Every day, radiation oncologists help people overcome cancer and other diseases using treatments that are safe, effective and highly targeted to destroy tumors.”

Radiation therapy is one of the most common and successful cancer treatments, prescribed for more than half of people diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. For prostate cancer, modern radiation techniques such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and image guidance provide excellent long-term cancer control with minimal side effects. Many patients now complete treatment in just a few weeks thanks to evidence-based, shorter-course approaches.

Decades of research and progress have transformed radiation therapy into a highly personalized and well-tolerated treatment for prostate and many other cancers:

• Collaborative care: Radiation oncologists work closely with urologists, medical oncologists and other specialists to individualize treatment based on a patient’s preferences and specific disease characteristics.

• Quality of life: Doctors use advanced techniques to shape the radiation dose to the tumor, reducing exposure to nearby organs and preserving function in the region.

• Patient convenience: Modern “hypofractionated” approaches allow many patients to complete treatment in as little as four to five weeks, cutting time in half without compromising effectiveness.

• Enduring outcomes: For localized prostate cancer, long-term control rates with radiation therapy are comparable to surgery, with more than 90% of patients surviving at least five years post-treatment.

New research presented at ASTRO’s recent Annual Meeting underscores continued progress in prostate cancer care, including a clinical trial that validates the first predictive biomarker to guide hormone therapy use with radiation, as well as a trial showing that adding a radiopharmaceutical drug to stereotactic radiation delayed disease progression in patients with early metastatic prostate cancer. ASTRO also operates RT Answers, a patient education site with information on how radiation therapy is used to cure and treat cancers.

“While every patient’s experience is unique, moments like this symbolize the dedication of cancer care teams everywhere,” said Dr. Keole. “On behalf of the radiation oncology community, we extend our best wishes to President Biden for his continued recovery and good health.”

ABOUT ASTRO
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is the world’s largest professional society dedicated to advancing radiation oncology, with 10,000 members including physicians, nurses, physicists, radiation therapists, dosimetrists and other professionals who work to improve patient outcomes through clinical care, research, education and policy advocacy. Radiation therapy is integral to 40% of cancer cures worldwide, and more than one million Americans receive radiation treatments for their cancer each year. For information on radiation therapy, visit RTAnswers.org. To learn more about ASTRO, visit our website and media center and connect with us on social media.