A major technology upgrade is helping to deliver shorter and more targeted treatment for people with cancer on the Central Coast.
Supported by a $6 million grant from the Australian Government’s Radiation Oncology Health Program, two new recently installed linear accelerators at Gosford Hospital’s Central Coast Cancer Centre are enabling faster radiation delivery, improved imaging capabilities, and more advanced patient positioning.
Improved imaging and patient positioning enables clinicians to more precisely target tumours, minimising surrounding healthy tissues being exposed to radiation and reducing side effects for patients.
Faster radiation delivery reduces the duration of each treatment session and increases the overall efficiency of the therapy process.
The new linear accelerators are able to support the capture of 4D imaging and for certain tumour sites, these machines can actively monitor the patient’s respiratory motion.
This capability is particularly important for tumours in areas affected by breathing, such as the lungs or abdomen, as it allows the radiation to be synchronised with the patient’s breathing cycle.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park:
“All cancer patients, no matter where they live in NSW, should have equitable access to the most timely and appropriate treatment they require.
“This upgrade to cancer services means patients on the Central Coast can now undergo their treatments more quickly, reducing the time spent in the clinic and minimising disruptions to their daily lives.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for the Central Coast David Harris:
“It’s pleasing people in our community with cancer will now be able to access the latest radiotherapy equipment to ensure they get the essential treatment they need close to home.
“The cancer services team play a vital role in caring for our Central Coast community and the improved features of these new and upgraded linear accelerators will help them to enhance patient experiences.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch:
“Reducing the amount of time people with cancer need to spend receiving treatment is vital in supporting their overall wellbeing during such a challenging time.
“It’s great that we can offer the latest treatments to those that need it close to home.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Robertson Dr Gordon Reid:
“The new linear accelerators provide a significant boost to treatment delivery capabilities and will be crucial in supporting clinicians to improve patient care particularly for more complex tumours.”