Giant strides towards our first proton therapy unit for tumours

Nurse Kate Pagnozzi had to take a frightening trip to the other side of the world destroy a brain tumour. Others may soon find the same treatment in Adelaide.

Cancer patients like Kate Pagnozzi, inset, could soon find the proton therapy she needed closer to home in the next stage of the SAHMRI project. Picture: Supplied. Inset: Ian Currie

• SA’s bloody amazing medicine, from the benchtop to bedside

When Kate Pagnozzi, 22, faced the daunting challenge of proton therapy treatment to pulverise an inoperable brain tumour, she had to deal with the “terrifying” ordeal of flying to Jacksonville, Florida for 10 weeks.

Kate is now back in Australia optimistically waiting for scans to show the success of the treatment — and is thrilled that Australia’s first planned proton therapy unit in Adelaide has taken several strides forward.

Adelaide nurse Kate Pagnozzi had to go to Florida FOR proton therapy on an inoperable brain tumour. Picture: Ian Currie

“Maybe I’ll work there one day,” the registered nurse from Windsor Gardens said.

The Australian Bragg Centre for Proton Therapy and Research will be in a bunker in the planned $300 million SAHMRI 2 building, next to the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) “cheesegrater” building on North Terrace.

The unit will treat around 800 patients a year, destroying cancer cells with radiation without damaging healthy tissues by delivering powerful proton beams precisely where needed.

Many will be South Australians like Kate who will no longer have to travel overseas for lifesaving treatment, while others will come from interstate and overseas to the SA Health and Biomedical Precinct.

In several landmark strides towards the only proton therapy unit in the southern hemisphere:

THE National Partnership Agreement between the Federal Government and State Government for $68 million to fund a new Proton Therapy Facility has been executed, meaning the first payment of $26.7 million from the Commonwealth can be made;

THIS is in addition to $44 million from the State which includes the land and relocation of major rail infrastructure on the site;

GLOBAL construction firm Lend Lease has been appointed by Adelaide developer Commercial & General as the builder;

SITE works are expected to commence this year and the SAHMRI 2 building finished by 2022;

SAHMRI has commenced a training plan to prepare the future professionals including clinicians from UniSA and the University of Adelaide, and is working with other global centres of excellence such as Massachusetts General Hospital, University of Pennsylvania and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in the UK to develop the expertise required to treat patients.

South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute. Picture: Supplied/SAHMRI

SAHMRI executive director Steve Wesselingh said South Australians can feel proud that SAHMRI has been chosen to develop Australia’s first proton therapy unit.

“These milestones are major steps towards a time in the near future when cancer patients, in particular children, will be able to readily access this lifesaving technology in Australia,” he said.

Health and Wellbeing Minister Stephen Wade said the federal-state agreement is the next important step in delivering a world-class health and medical precinct.

“The facility will reiterate South Australia’s position on the health and medical research world stage — but most importantly it will improve the lives of patients,” he said.

For Kate, the unit will save others the ordeal she endured after what she thought was a blocked ear turned out to be a brain tumour.

She underwent surgery in October 2016 in the Royal Adelaide Hospital which removed about 95 per cent of the tumour, but a tiny residue too risky to remove was left.

Last September she left with her mother Natalie for Jacksonville, Florida, to undergo proton therapy treatment in an effort to destroy the remnant.

“I was terrified,” Kate said. “I had never been to America. I was not going there for a holiday, I was going for treatment, and there was a lot to take in while I was focused on my health.

“It’s completely different from Australia and I had to worry about all the differences between Australia and America, such as driving on the other side of the road and the different currency, and worry about my health at the same time.’’

During her 10 week stay other family members made a surprise visit, to her delight.

She has had just one scan since, as it takes time for the treatment to subside but is optimistic for the future.

“You have to have a positive mindset,” she said.

“I am glad other people in the future will be able to get this treatment at home.”

Kate’s mother Natalie Salvati is also pleased — she has been campaigning for proton therapy unit in Australia including with an online petition.

“It has been overwhelming reading stories from people who have been affected in the same way as Kate, in varying degrees, and not knowing what the future will bring for them,” she said.

“I sincerely hope that we have this lifesaving equipment in Australia, considering that the USA has over 40 of these machines alone. It has been an emotional rollercoaster ride with Kate, and something that no patient or carer should have to go through.”