Wendy Tagget is first patient to use Cairns Hospital cancer treatment centre’s new linear accelerator
The first Cairns Hospital patient has been treated by a state-of-the-art piece of medical kit that will prove itself a vital asset in the fight against cancer here in the Far North. Here’s why.
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A FAR North woman has become the first person to begin cancer treatment with a newly acquired multimillion-dollar linear accelerator at the Liz Plummer Cancer Care Centre at Cairns Hospital.
Tolga resident Wendy Tagget cut the ribbon on Monday, formally opening one of the two new linear accelerators. She then underwent the first session with the machine, worth $4m, to treat her breast cancer.
Ms Tagget said she felt the treatment session went well and praised the excellent staff at the centre.
“Last Christmas I felt a lump on my breast,” she said.
“But it took a long while to get an appointment and then I got Covid which delayed me seeing someone.”
Radiation oncologist Dr Lisa Cappelle said the arrival of the two machines marked a $10m investment, including establishment costs, in cancer patient treatment by the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service.
She explained that the linear accelerator customised high energy X-rays to target a tumour’s distinct shape and destroy the cancerous cells while sparing surrounding normal tissue.
“It is an amazing opportunity for Cairns,” Ms Cappelle said.
“It’s cutting edge technology that will make treatment faster, safer and better for our patients.”
Centre site manager and radiation therapist Brock Ditton said the second linear accelerator will be operational in early 2023.
“It is a distinct iteration from the current platform and we are so grateful for the hospital’s support,” he said.
“These new machines mean a lot more cancer treatments can be undertaken in Cairns
“Historically, many patients had to travel to Townsville or Brisbane.”
Ms Tagget said she was grateful to be the first person to use the linear accelerator and urged anyone who felt unwell to speak with their GP.
“If anyone reading this does find a lump, then don’t delay,” she said.
“Go and get this checked out with your GP.”
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