GenesisCare launches first of its kind brain cancer treatment in Bunbury, drastically reducing treatment times
Improving care options close to home
Bunbury, Western Australia – GenesisCare has today announced the availability of a new highly precise treatment option for local brain cancer patients, the first of its kind in the region.
Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is an intracranial non-invasive form of radiation therapy treatment which delivers precisely targeted radiation in fewer high-dose treatments than traditional techniques.
Previously, some local cancer patients in Bunbury had to travel to Perth to access the innovative treatment option.
GenesisCare Bunbury Radiation Oncologist Dr Hendrick Tan, who specialises in neuro-oncology cancers, said “Brain metastases (secondary brain tumours) are estimated to occur in between 20-40 per cent of cancer patients, and as a result we are seeing an increasing number of patients benefiting from stereotactic treatment.”
“The treatment involves delivering a high dose of radiation therapy directly to tumours in the brain, destroying cancer cells while minimising damage to surrounding healthy tissues. Patients typically only require between one and three sessions as the treatment can target multiple tumours at the same time.”
The highly precise treatment option uses a robotic patient positioning platform, Elekta’s HexaPODTM, which is guided by an infrared camera that enables sub-millimetre patient positioning accuracy.
Louise Coffey, General Manager of GenesisCare in WA, said: “At GenesisCare, we are committed to ensuring that all of our patients can access the highest quality of care and latest treatments, regardless of whether they live in metropolitan or regional Western Australia.”
“Many of our patients from the South West juggle their treatment appointments with important activities such as caring for significant others, navigating work responsibilities and running a household, so being able to reduce the number of required visits for treatment can make a big difference to their quality of life.”
WA Country Health Service Regional Director Kerry Winsor said: “The introduction of this new treatment is another great example of what can be achieved through collaboration for patients in the South West.”
