The Coast’s latest weapon against prostate cancer is an Australia first
A NEW cutting-edge machine is helping to diagnose and treat a deadly form of cancer in what is being hailed as a ‘breakthrough’ — and it’s only available on the Gold Coast.
Gold Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Gold Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A state-of-the-art prostate cancer machine is helping to save the lives of Gold Coast men.
The $300,000 Atemis is the only one of its kind in Australian and is being used to diagnose and treat prostate cancer patients at Pindara Private Hospital.
The machine fuses ultrasound and MRI scans to give a more precise image of the cancer.
Dr Charles Chabert, director of The Prostate Clinic and Laparoscopic Urology Australia, said the machine had already helped to diagnose 100 Gold Coast men.
“The issue with ultrasound alone is it doesn’t pick up legions or spots so we pair up the ultra sound with previously obtained MRI scans and integrate it and can diagnose much more accurately,” he said.
“There is much less risk than a traditional biopsy and that’s the big advantage to this machine, it is much less invasive and that reduces risks like infections.
“It also allows us to better determine the stage of cancer so men aren’t given unnecessary invasive treatments if they don’t require it. Some prostate legions and growths simply need to be monitored rather than go to drastic measures of surgery, and this machine allows us to see this better.
“Previously, men with less aggressive cancers were receiving aggressive treatments and they just don’t need it.
“The advantage is, we know exactly where the cancer is, there’s no guess work, then we can target that exact tissue during treatment.”
While there are other ultrasound fusion platforms, Pindara Private Hospital is the only hospital who uses the Artemis.
The technology was developed in the United States and Pindara were ‘lucky enough’ to trial the machine last year.
A scan with the Artemis costs patients $500 and is not covered by Medicare or Private Health Insurance.
Dr Chabert said men should not become complacent about their health.
“Don’t be too scared to come and get checked out,” he said.
“Don’t bury your head in the sand, it’s not as scary as you think.”
Dr Chabert recommends all men from the age of 50 to 69 years old with no family history of prostate cancer discuss having a blood test with their GP.
The Facts
* Prostate cancer kills more Aussies each year than breast cancer or melanoma.
* Men have a one in five chance of developing prostate cancer by the age of 85.
* On average, 55 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every day in Australia.
* There are 200 Artemis machines globally.
* China, Japan, the Middle East, India and South America also use the Artemis.
* 4-5 sites in Australia are trialling the equipment including a NZ hospital but the Gold Coast is currently the only location where the Artemis is permanently available
* The $300,000 purchase was funded exclusively by Pindara Private Hospital
* A prostate MRI costs $500 with the Artemis
‘Pulled out small knife’: Senior attacked at GC shop centre
Shocking images have surfaced from Nerang Fair Shopping Centre where a 68-year-old man was attacked at knifepoint allegedly by a young male teen.
‘Public interest’ in bankrupting Coast lawyer
A decision is expected within weeks on whether a disgraced ex-lawyer will be bankrupted in a landmark Federal Court case. Read what happened in the hearing’s final day: