Global Access to Cancer Care Foundation (GACCF) www.globalaccf.org, the leading global cancer care organization providing oncology education programs in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), announced today a new strategic partnership with Radiating Hope www.radiatinghope.org, a non-profit organization dedicated to expanding access to radiation cancer care for patients around the globe.

The partnership unites two organizations that share a mutual purpose of transforming lives through radiotherapy treatment in South America, Africa, South and East Asia. As part of the new partnership, Radiating Hope’s Executive Director, Tom Ladd, has joined the GACCF Board. Ladd will also continue his long-standing leadership role as Executive Director of Radiating Hope.

Together, the newly formed collaboration will continue to educate physicians and medical specialists who work in the field of oncology and bring hope and resilience to communities where cancer education and treatment are desperately needed.

“Radiating Hope has a long history of providing the operational solutions and support that nonprofits need to advance their mission in treating the most vulnerable patients who lack access to equipment and medical know-how to fight the disease,” said Tonya Steiner, executive director of Global Access to Cancer Care Foundation. “Our new partnership enhances these services as we empower more physicians and medical specialists to provide state-of-the-art radiotherapy treatment in these underserviced regions of the world.”

Today, cancer is the leading cause of death in Africa, killing more people than HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined. GACCF and Radiating Hope are dedicated to advancing cancer care in developing countries and addressing the scarcity of cancer care due to outdated equipment and simplified techniques. Radiation therapy is a vital component of most cancer treatments. Approximately 60-70 percent of all cancer patients in the US will receive some form of radiation therapy. Most people living in developing nations do not have access to this crucial treatment.

GACCF helps cancer care professionals expand their knowledge base by implementing and overseeing training courses and workshops that improve cancer treatment through radiotherapy to destroy cancer cells – an essential component required in more than 50 percent of all cancer patients, along with surgery and chemotherapy. An increase in radiotherapy training can ultimately result in increased positive patient outcomes and a reduction of side effects commonly experienced with cancer treatment.

“Radiating Hope is delighted to work with GACCF and bring together the complementary services of two great organizations to better treat cancer on a global scale,” said Tom Ladd, executive director of Radiating Hope. “This partnership merges Radiating Hope’s expertise in developing countries and our volunteer force of radiation oncology professionals with GACCF’s medical training programs to meet critical needs around the world.”