$8 million cancer treatment machine a Victorian first
Works installing the first radiotherapy machine in Victoria using real-time imaging to treat tumours have started. And Heidelberg hospital administrators hope it can be a game changer in treating some of the deadliest forms of cancer.
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This radiation therapy machine, which has been lowered by a 100-tonne crane through a massive hole into the bunker of the Olivia Newton John Centre, is a Victorian first.
Just one of three nationwide, the MRI-Linac machine uses real time quality imaging to target tumours for radiation therapy.
Austin Health cancer and neuroscience divisional director Cherie Cheshire said the $8 million machine would make the Olivia Newton John Centre the statewide provider for this type of radiation therapy.
“Tumours can be treated with greater accuracy and the technology also has the potential to reduce side effects and improve cancer treatment outcomes as a result,” Ms Cheshire said.
The massive machine was dropped into the bunker using 3.43m wide gantry and 5-tonne magnet on January 31.
It will use state-of-the-art technology to monitor movement of tumour locations to precisely target the beam, without causing damage to other organs, using real time imaging.
Typically radiotherapy treatment would use still images of tumours to then help plan and guide the direction of the radiation beam.
Austin Health cancer services divisional manager Penny Sanderson said the machine would enable better outcomes for patients.
“While they’re undergoing radiotherapy, patients can see a crystal clear personalised image of the treatments in real time,” Ms Sanderson said.
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The technology has only been available worldwide for the past 18 months.
The other two Australian MRI-Linac machines are in Queensland and Sydney.
“Not everything is known about the capabilities but it’s a big step up from a lot of radiotherapy machines,” Ms Sanderson said.
“Hopefully it’ll be used to treat cancers that are hard to target, like pancreas, head and neck tumours.”
The machine is not yet complete, but is expected to be up and running by the end of the year.
It will treat about 200 patients in its first year of operation.
courtney.beaumont@news.com.au