A cutting-edge form of radiation therapy means Sunshine Hospital can offer more localised treatment – geographically and physically.
Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) is now being offered to public patients at the Sunshine Hospital’s radiation therapy centre, which is run by the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Western Health.
The radiation therapy can speed up treatment and limits damage to healthy tissue surrounding a tumour.
It’s the first time VMAT is available to public patients in Melbourne’s west. The treatment has also recently been introduced to the Monash Cancer Centre.
Peter Mac Sunshine director Phillip Tran says VMAT goes one step further than typical radiation therapy, which hones in on a tumor from fixed points around the body.
“VMAT is like constantly spraying an extinguisher while walking around a fire, rather than using six or seven fixed bursts,” Dr Tran said.
“It’s not something that’s going to be applicable to all types of cancers, but it’s another tool that our team has available.
“At the moment, our focus has been on treatments in the pelvis, as well as tumours in the head and neck area.
“With brain tumours, what it will help with is reducing the dose of radiation to the important structures around the tumour – including the eyes and other parts of the
brain – and so it spares healthy tissue and should translate to less side-effects.”
Wayne Boucher, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year, has had eight weeks of VMAT treatment at Sunshine, and no side effects from the radiation.
The 67-year-old Werribee resident said he was glad to be able to get treated close to home.
