Modern radiation therapy

Soon, we will be embarking on an exciting journey, taking Australians under the skin of radiation therapy. An important educational documentary designed to provide a comprehensive explanation of radiation therapy and its use in the
treatment of skin cancer. Over the coming weeks you’ll have the opportunity to learn more about Brett who we followed for the duration of his treatment and you’ll have the opportunity to explore a documentary we’ve created that condenses 25 days of his treatment plus healing into an interactive film.

As a result of the extreme pressure being placed on the public health system, a growing number of operations for non- melanoma skin cancer being delayed or cancelled.

For suitable patients, radiation therapy may offer an alternative option to surgery, with modern techniques such as VMAT (Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy) showing efficacious and well-tolerated results with local control rates in the order of 90-95%.¹

Suitable patients include those with aggressive primary or recurrent BCCs and SCCs, or superficial melanoma. In particular, where it relates to the elderly, those with comorbidities or where undue treatment delay (3-6 months or more) would be problematic.

Australia has one of the highest skin cancer rates in the world with almost half a million people treated for one or more non- melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) each year.² These skin cancers are commonly found on the most sun-exposed parts of the body, including the head, neck, and face.³

Management of complex and invasive skin cancer in the current environment webinar recording

In order to help you to navigate the current environment, a panel of experts held a live discussion on the primary care management and treatment considerations for complex and invasive skin cancer. Watch the recording below.

Consider radiation therapy for NMSC

• Treatment is delivered with curative intent
• Treatment is affordable
• Treatment of large areas (fields) of skin is possible

Patient eligibility

• NMSC and wide-field skin cancerisation
• Ability to lie flat for approximately 15 minutes for multiple treatment sessions

For the past 22 years, Rod has been seeing doctors and dermatologists every three months to manage cancers that have appeared on his arms and legs, after years of playing outdoor sports and wearing limited skin protection.

Rod is now looking and feeling better after receiving radiation therapy on the affected areas at GenesisCare. Hear how Rod is now enjoying his life post-treatment.

Diagnosis: Extensive solar damage, including  intraepidermal  carcinomas

Previous Tx: Surgeries, skin grafts, radiation therapy to forehead in 2010

RT completed: 50 Gy in 25 fractions using VMAT

Clearance at 12 months: 100%

Cosmetic outcome: Excellent

Other relevant information: One very small healing ulcer and tight scalp

Diagnosis: Basal cell carcinoma

Previous Tx: None

Other relevant  information:  Referred with consideration of cosmetic impact of RT vs surgery

RT completed: 55 Gy in 25 fractions using conformal RT

Clearance at 15 months: 100%

Cosmetic outcome: Good

Diagnosis: Multiple non-melanomatous skin cancers

Previous Tx: Local excisions, liquid nitrogen, diathermy, Efudex®, acitretin and cortisone

Other relevant information: >40-year history of skin cancers

RT completed: 45 Gy in 25 fractions using VMAT

Clearance at 12 months: One isolated actinic keratosis

Cosmetic outcome: Good

• GenesisCare will treat all suitable patients, regardless of their financial circumstances
• Daily treatment 15-20 mins for 3-5 weeks
• Ambulatory outpatient treatment so apart from travel time and treatment time, rest of the day is as normal