Lifting the bar in radiation therapy

Associate Professor Hany Elsaleh, Director Radiation Oncology at The Alfred, said the LINAC will significantly increase the team’s ability to deliver radiation with fewer side effects and decreased treatment time.

“One of the main benefits of the new LINAC is that it allows us to treat very small and complex lesions via Stereotactic Radiotherapy, which is the delivery of very high and controlled doses of radiation,” said Assoc. Prof Elsaleh.

“Delivering radiation in this precise way means we can minimise damage to healthy tissue, which results in fewer side effects for the patient, and decreases the number of required treatments.”

The addition of the new LINAC means the five radiation therapy machines across Alfred Health’s Radiation Oncology department, and partners at Gippsland Radiation Oncology, are now the same which means patients can be treated on any machine throughout their treatment journey.

The LINAC also allows for patients to receive Surface Guided Radiation Therapy, which completely eliminates the need for intrusive tattoo and skin-marking guidance on the skin.

“This 3D technology accounts for patient movement during treatment and means that we can specifically target the areas we need to using light guidance," said Assoc. Prof Elsaleh.

The ‘bunker’ treatment room, home to the new LINAC, has also had a makeover, with the therapeutic environment designed to help patients feel at ease.

“We’ve intentionally selected lighting, a softer colour palette and carefully curated ceiling artwork to ensure we deliver a calm and restorative patient experience."

Karen Arkey was this morning the first patient to receive treatment in the new LINAC, in what was her eleventh session of radiation therapy.

“Coming in for treatment is always a bit confronting, you can’t believe it’s you going through it,” she said.  “But the new space is so much brighter and has a really positive feel to it. It makes a difference.”