Melbourne hospital first to introduce Varian’s cutting edge radiation therapy technology

Cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy are now benefiting from dramatically shorter treatment times, thanks to the introduction of advanced medical technology that’s reshaping the way treatment is delivered.

According to A/Prof Hany Elsaleh, Director of Radiation Oncology at Alfred Health, Varian’s Hypersight on TrueBeam cuts down on ‘idle time’ when patients typically spend waiting on the treatment bed while therapists assess the setup and make critical decisions.

“With this technology, therapists have the confidence to make faster decisions because they are working with more detailed information,” A/Prof Elsaleh explained. “This quicker turnaround time also reduces discomfort or anxiety for patients, which often comes from long sessions, ultimately enhancing their overall experience.”

Beyond saving time, the increased imaging precision that the new system offers helps deliver treatments with greater accuracy, minimising the potential for damage to healthy tissue and reducing side effects for patients.

Alfred Health is leading the way, becoming the first hospital in Australia to implement this innovative imaging technology.

For 43-year-old Ben, whose journey through cancer treatment has been nothing short of gruelling, the timing of this new technology has been a welcome relief.

“I’m almost at the end of my 30 sessions of radiation,” said Ben, who underwent a series of surgeries to remove squamous cell carcinoma from his mouth late last year, including a complex 25cm skin graft from his thigh and pectoral surgery.

“I’ve definitely noticed a difference – there’s less time spent lying on the bed waiting. Before, even though the team would check in with you over the microphone or you could listen to music, there was always that nagging feeling of not knowing what was going on or how much longer you’d be lying still. Now, it’s much quicker,” he added.

For Ben, the radiation therapy is just one chapter in a lengthy recovery process that began with three surgeries and weeks in ICU. Now, with the support of physiotherapists and speech pathologists, he’s learning to eat and drink again.

“It’s been a long journey to get here,” he reflected. “But what makes it all worthwhile is that the teams here are incredible. The fact that we have access to the best technology and care in a public hospital is reassuring – everything I need is right here.”

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