World-leading brain cancer treatment now available for Aussies

A Gold Coast cancer patient is the first Aussie to be treated with new radiation therapy technology at Radiation Oncology Centres (ROC) Gold Coast Private.

ROC is part of Icon Group, Australia’s largest, dedicated provider of cancer care, and the nation’s first to offer Varian’s HyperArc high-definition radiotherapy – an end-to-end technology solution for the treatment of multiple brain tumours.

Varian developed the HyperArc technology to enable clinicians to treat multiple, well-defined tumours with high-doses of radiation therapy that pinpoint the tumours via a fully automated system.

ROC’s first patient to receive HyperArc technology, Philippa Douglas, Gold Coast, said, “the thing that gave me peace of mind was the precision of the treatment. Knowing I was being treated with the latest technology and that the radiation was targeting my tumours with millimetre accuracy, gives me hope.”

Icon Group Radiation Oncologist, Dr Jim Jackson, Gold Coast, explains how this technology benefits both clinicians and patients.

“With HyperArc, we can treat patients with several brain tumours with pinpoint accuracy. It allows us to target the tumours, not the surrounding brain. This technology offers patients excellent tumour control, without the side effects associated with irradiating normal brain tissue.

“It is also beneficial for the patient as it is quick and comfortable. A treatment takes less than 10 minutes and there are no invasive head restraints that can be stressful for patients,” said Dr Jackson.

HyperArc utilises the capabilities of Varian’s TrueBeam® linear accelerator and enables multiple tumours to be treated more efficiently via one simple, automated set-up point, with treatment lasting only a few minutes.

Varian Australasia Managing Director, Chris Cowley, said Varian aims to bring advanced technology to cancer patients Australia-wide.

“We are delighted to be introducing this innovative technology to Australian cancer patients. By partnering with leading companies, such as the Icon Group, to deliver advanced cancer treatments to more patients, we are edging closer toward our vision of achieving a world without fear of cancer.”

An estimated 138,000 new cancer cases will be diagnosed in Australia this year, with that number set to rise to 150,000 by 2020.1 Approximately 1,750 brain cancers are diagnosed each year nation-wide, which equates to roughly one person diagnosed with brain cancer every five hours.2

Icon Group CEO, Mark Middleton, Brisbane, said his company invests in the latest technology and cancer techniques for the benefit of patients and their families.

“Today marks an exciting milestone. The Varian Hyperarc technology places the Gold Coast at the forefront of exceptional cancer care, both in Australia and world-wide.

“As cancer rates continue to rise, and technology continues to progress, it is important for people to have access to state-of-the-art treatments, as close to home as possible,” Mr Middleton said.

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