Max Hatzoglou
Cancer patients in the West will now have access to the latest technology in radiation therapy for cancer, after the addition of two new radiation therapy machines at Sunshine Hospital was announced on Monday, March 21st.
The two new medical linear accelerator machines (LINAC) will increase treatment capacity at the Sunshine Hospital Radiation Therapy Center, allowing for greater patient intake.
Western Health and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Center have supported the increase through an investment of over $ 6 million.
The Varian Truebeam machines will allow for complex treatments that patients previously had to travel to Peter Macs Parkville campus to receive.
Treatments include small tumors in the brain, and highest dose treatments for other targets in the body.
The new machines are more efficient and use high-energy X-rays or electrons to destroy cancer cells.
A statement said it is the device most commonly used to deliver radiation treatments to people with cancer.
One patient said the new machines help make the treatment process easier.
“It’s great to have these new machines in Sunshine,” said Philip Ring.
“I live in St Albans, so it’s easier to be treated at Sunshine Hospital instead of going into town. Especially because I come every week for seven weeks.”
Western Health CEO Russell Harrison said it was an important step forward.
“We are excited that the communities of Melbourne’s western suburbs now have access to these advanced machines that complement the cancer treatment we provide at Western Health,” Harrison said.
“Treatment delivered close to home is so important and provides many benefits to our patients and their families.”