KIDNEY cancer patients on the Mid North Coast will soon have a new treatment option – Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiotherapy (SABR).
It is due to the combined generosity of Coffs Harbour’s Shearwater Lodge, Tour de Rocks Limited and the Rotary Club of Coffs Harbour.
The SABR technique delivers a high dose of radiotherapy with extreme precision, meaning far fewer treatments for patients and less impact on surrounding healthy organs.
The three groups each provided $50,000 to the Mid North Coast Cancer Institute (MNCCI) to fund a radiotherapy project officer, who is developing the program and will help train staff in kidney SABR.
This ensures the advanced technique becomes a standard treatment option for the local community.
The first patients are expected to begin treatment at Coffs Harbour Health Campus in September.
Project lead Sarah Edwards said the specialised SABR technique established at MNCCI had been expanded for use in kidney cancer patients who would normally need to travel to metropolitan centres.
“The SABR technique delivers a high dose of radiotherapy to a small target area leading to shorter treatment courses,” Ms Edwards said.
“As well as providing a benefit for patient wait times, it will also enable our service to have greater capacity to treat other high-risk patients.”
Shearwater Lodge was established as a Rotary Club of Coffs Harbour initiative to provide low-cost accommodation to Coffs Harbour Health Campus patients and their loved ones.
It opened in 2005 with funding support from the Woolgoolga Lions Club and the community.
Income generated from Shearwater Lodge supports local cancer research and medical treatment.
Lodge chairman Dr Paul Moran said it will be exciting to see the project treating its first patients, with full implementation expected from November.
“Regional people deserve the same kind of radiotherapy treatment as their city counterparts,” Dr Moran said.
“Being able to access this specialised treatment means better care for people closer to home, improving outcomes for patients and social benefits for our community.”
By Andrea FERRARI
