A prostate cancer therapy that greatly reduces the time required for treatment has become available for the first time in regional NSW.
Matthew Hoffmann, acting manager of radiotherapy at the Mid North Coast Cancer Institute (MNCCI) in Coffs Harbour, said stereotactic radiotherapy delivered higher, more precise treatment doses.
"Where patients are currently being treated with 20 treatments, or up to 41 treatments, they'll now be treated with a five-treatment course," he said.
It means a treatment time of just one week, down from as many as eight.
For those living on the mid-north coast, accessing the treatment used to mean travelling to metropolitan areas and the expense associated with that.
"It's a quite an impact on people's life having to do that day after day — it's five days a week for that amount of time," Mr Hoffman said.
But now, they'll be able to access it locally at the MNCCI.
Faster times, more patients treated
The faster treatment times will also mean waitlists will be reduced, freeing up slots for other cancer patients sooner.
"If the treatment courses are shorter, we'll be able to treat more patients over a period of time," Mr Hoffmann said.
The treatment's availability is thanks to a $150,000 grant from the Shearwater Lodge fundraising group, lead by the Coffs Harbour Rotary Club and Woolgoolga Lions Club.
The grant will pay for a specialised project radiation therapist to implement the new treatment process and train local staff to deliver stereotactic radiotherapy over 12 months.
Shearwater Lodge board member Neville Hillenberg knows firsthand how critical this equipment can be, having gone through his own cancer battle.
"It wasn't a problem to me, but for a lot of people it is quite traumatic," he said.
"It saves people the necessity of spending long times away from home."
Whole NSW north coast to benefit
Chair of Shearwater Lodge Paul Moran said the mid-north coast had lagged behind for decades when it came to cancer treatment.
"In the 90s, the federal government identified the Cowper electorate as the most disadvantaged in Australia with respect to radiotherapy for cancer patients," he said.
Mr Hillenberg said other patients on the NSW north coast — in areas like in Lismore and Port Macquarie — would also have access to the treatment in Coffs Harbour.
"It's going to cover quite a wide regional area," he said.
Dr Moran said the next step was to make stereotactic radiotherapy more widely available.
"Hopefully this system eventually will go to the other regional centres in New South Wales".
