Max Hatzoglou
Cancer patients in the west will now have access to the latest technology in radiation cancer treatment after the addition of two new radiotherapy machines at the Sunshine Hospital was announced on Monday, March 21.
The two new medical linear accelerator (LINAC) machines will increase the treatment capacity at the Sunshine Hospital Radiation Therapy Centre, allowing for greater intake of patients.
Western Health and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre have supported the increase through an investment worth over $6 million.
The Varian Truebeam machines will allow for complex treatments to occur which patients previously had to travel to Peter Mac’s Parkville campus to receive.
Treatments include small tumours in the brain, and highest dose treatments to other targets in the body.
The new machines are more efficient and use high-energy X-rays or electrons to destroy cancer cells.
A statement said it is the device most commonly used to deliver radiation treatments to people with cancer.
One patient said the new machines help make the treatment process easier.
“It’s great to have these new machines in Sunshine,” Philip Ring said.
“I live in St Albans, so it’s easier to be treated at Sunshine Hospital rather than going into the city. Particularly because I’ll be coming in every week day for seven weeks.”
Western Health chief executive Russell Harrison said it was an important step forward.
“We are thrilled that the communities in Melbourne’s western suburbs now have access to these state-of-the-art machines, complementing the cancer care we provide at Western Health,” Harrison said.
“Treatment delivered close to home is so important and offers many benefits to our patients and their families.”
