Precision key to new cancer treatment at Moorabbin centre

  • 2015-05-11
Damage to healthy tissue is being reduced by the use of a new radiotherapy treatment for cancer.

The Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy machine has been introduced at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Moorabbin, Victoria.

The machine, according to Dr. Steven David, can more precisely target cancer and provides faster treatment than radiotherapy on traditional machines. The new technology, Dr. David said, was a welcome addition to the centre.

He said the operation of the machine is different to those in common use today, and instead of remaining stationary, it rotates in an arc around the area being treated constantly administering radiation to the tumour. Patients, he said, were benefiting from its ability to confine the dose rate to a specific area.

The installation of the new system at the Cancer Centre and associated staff training has taken almost a year, but Dr. David maintains the wait was worth it.

He said the machine's ability to more accurately target cancers assisted greatly in preventing healthy tissue damage.

Dr. David said it would enable treatment to be more efficient and precise, and could therefore reduce side effects and allow more people to be treated, which would in turn have the effect of cutting waiting lists.

The machine, which has been the subject of many media reports and other printing services, has so far treated prostate cancer patients, but an expansion of the service is planned soon.