GenesisCare marks 50,000 cancer treatments in Shepparton
Shepparton, Australia – Cancer care provider GenesisCare is recognising the delivery of 50,000 treatments in Shepparton this month.
GenesisCare opened the first and only radiation therapy centre in Greater Shepparton almost seven years ago to offer the local community access to high-quality cancer care closer to their homes and cut the need to commute to either Bendigo, Albury-Wodonga or Melbourne for treatment.
GenesisCare Radiation Oncologist Dr Grace Ong said: “I'm incredibly proud to be part of this dedicated team and, almost seven years on, we continue to provide this vital service to the community. Having access to treatment locally means many patients can remain close to their support networks. The burden of travelling long distances for care should not be an additional challenge for people already facing a cancer diagnosis.”
(L to R) GenesisCare Radiation Oncologist Dr Grace Ong, Centre Leader Demet Hepyukselen, Member for Shepparton Kim O'Keeffe MP, Mayor for Greater Shepparton City Council Cr Geoff Akers, GenesisCare Radiation Oncologist Dr Theresa Cook, GenesisCare General Manager Victoria Brendan Foley, Consumer Representative Thomas O’Reilly.
“Being part of the national GenesisCare network has enabled us to bring advanced treatment techniques to the Greater Shepparton region. An example of this is our introduction of Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiotherapy, which for suitable prostate cancer patients can reduce treatment from four weeks of daily radiotherapy sessions to just five treatment sessions1,2. For our regional patients, this means less travel and time away from work and family, and greater convenience while still receiving high-quality cancer care close to home. Being part of a national network also ensures we remain connected with colleagues across the country, allowing us to continuously build our knowledge, collaborate on patient care, and provide access to clinical trials and emerging treatment approaches.”
GenesisCare Radiation Oncologist Dr Theresa Cook, who moved to the local area to treat patients in Shepparton, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for our team, including those who have been caring for patients since the centre delivered its first treatment.”
“My husband and I have found the Goulburn Valley community to be very welcoming and supportive since arriving last year. Having seen firsthand in my own family the challenges that travelling away from home for cancer treatment can create, I feel privileged to give back to the community by helping to ease some of that burden for local patients and their families, both now and in the years to come.”
The Member for Shepparton, Kim O’Keeffe MP, attended GenesisCare to mark the milestone with the team and said: “GenesisCare is providing a critical service to regional patients, and I have heard firsthand the incredible difference that makes to patients, their families and loved ones in accessing local care and treatment.”
“Delivering over 50,000 treatments is an incredible milestone and I thank GenesisCare for the outstanding care they are providing.”
The Mayor of Greater Shepparton City Council, Cr Geoff Akers, was also in attendance.
GenesisCare Shepparton offers high-quality and evidence-based radiation oncology treatments for a range of adult tumour types and connection with allied health services. Working in partnership with Goulburn Valley Health, GenesisCare’s team aims to offer a seamless, coordinated connection between the Shepparton’s cancer services and multidisciplinary team care.
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Delivering over 50,000 treatments is an incredible milestone and I thank GenesisCare for the outstanding care they are providing.
- Kim O'Keeffe, MP