25 September 2009

Cancer patients benefit from new linear accelerator at Prince of Wales Hospital

Hundreds of cancer patients in Sydney’s south east and beyond will receive more efficient radiation oncology treatment following the installation of a new state-of-the-art $3.5 million linear accelerator at Prince of Wales Hospital – which is the first of its kind in Australia.

Head of Radiation Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Dr Michael Jackson, said the new equipment uses the latest in high-energy radiation technology to target and kill cancer cells in all type of cancers treatable by radiotherapy.

“In comparison with the old machine this has replaced, the new linear accelerator can deliver higher doses of radiation to the cancer while at the same time reducing the effects on surrounding healthy tissues. This means improved chance of cure and a reduction in side effects,” Dr Jackson said.

Cancer patients from across the three hospitals on the Randwick Hospitals Campus (Prince of Wales Hospital, Royal Hospital for Women and Sydney Children’s Hospital) are already receiving the benefits of the new machine.

“This modern technology has the capacity to allow highly complex treatments to be delivered in a fraction of the time they currently take. It has the capability of controlling not only the imaging devices, but also the patient positioning couch by remote control.

“Staff can image the treatment area, introduce any corrections required, and deliver treatment without having to enter the treatment room. It allows a high degree of treatment accuracy in a very short timeframe,” Dr Jackson said.

The Prince of Wales Cancer Centre is a centre of excellence for radiation oncology and is one of only three radiation oncology centres in NSW that provides radiotherapy for children as well as having the greatest experience in stereotactic radiotherapy.

”The new linear accelerator is a new generation of imaging equipment which allows fast and accurate guidance of the treatment to the target areas, and is now able to offer cancer patients the latest technology in radiation oncology treatment.

“Thanks are owed to the input and commitment of our staff who worked tirelessly to have the machine up and running, and ensuring our patients have access to the new machine as soon as possible,” Dr Jackson said.

The Prince of Wales Cancer Centre currently delivers more than 18,500 radiotherapy treatment sessions per year, with around 900 new patients treated annually.

This new linear accelerator will enable more patients to be treated faster and more accurately and adapt to the growing health care needs of cancer patients who access the Prince of Wales Cancer Centre each year.


Media Enquiries: Poppy Diamantis: 02 9382 8398 or 0411 730 842