GenesisCare has today announced the availability of a cutting-edge treatment option for patients in Concord living with prostate cancer.
Stereotactic ablative radiation therapy (known as SABR) is a highly accurate, non-invasive type of radiation therapy that targets both the tumour’s connective tissue and DNA, helping to rapidly kill the cancer cells.1
GenesisCare Radiation Oncologist, Dr Mark Sidhom, said: “SABR allows clinicians to precisely deliver a high dose of radiation directly to the tumour with sub-millimetre accuracy, destroying cancer cells while preserving surrounding healthy tissues.2
“This is especially important for cancers located near other sensitive organs, such as prostate cancer, as it can help to protect the healthy cells and minimise side effects.”
Prostate cancer is the state’s most commonly diagnosed cancer in men,3 accounting for more than a quarter male cancer diagnoses in New South Wales.4 An estimated 1-in-5 men will be diagnosed with disease by the age of 85.4
For approximately 50 per cent of all cancer patients, radiotherapy plays an important role in the treatment pathway, used with curative intent and in pain and symptom management.
“SABR enables us to deliver treatment in five sessions, compared to the 20-40 sessions required with conventional radiation therapy, significantly reducing the physical and emotional burden of treatment for our patients,” said Dr Mark Sidhom.6-8
Acting General Manager of Oncology in NSW, Edel Shovlin said: “At the height of COVID-19 globally, we saw a significant uptake in the use of stereotactic radiation therapy and hypofractionation as these treatments reduce the number of visits patients are required to make to hospitals and centres, allowing them to spend as much as time as possible in the safety of their own homes.”
“GenesisCare is steadfastly committed to ensuring men across NSW receive rapid access to the latest advancements in treatments for prostate cancer and the best possible life outcomes.
“In NSW we offer a regional travel package for our stereotactic patients where we cover the accommodation costs for rural patients, as well as free transport to and from the accommodation to our centres,” said Edel Shovlin.
Prostate cancer patients will now have to this new treatment option at the GenesisCare Concord centre.
In addition to the SABR treatment, prostate cancer patients can access free allied health services including physiotherapy before, during and after their treatment. Other allied health services on offer include patient psycho-education sessions, speech pathology, dietetics and clinical psychology.
About GenesisCare in NSW
GenesisCare has been providing high quality oncology services in NSW for more than 10 years. More than 200 doctors, nurses, engineers, physicists, radiation therapists and practice support team members deliver radiation therapy and medical oncology at 11 locations across the state: Hurstville, St Vincent’s Clinic, Sacred Heart at St Vincent’s, Macquarie Hospital, Mater Hospital, Newcastle, Albury/Wodonga, Concord, Kingswood, St Leonards and Frenchs Forest. GenesisCare in NSW has also expanded its comprehensive cancer care services, to include theranostics and medical oncology.
About GenesisCare
Sydney-headquartered GenesisCare delivers treatment to people with cancer and heart disease, the two largest disease burdens globally. We’re committed to leading the change in how care is given and are currently leading or participating in more than 150 clinical trials. The organisation employs more than 5,500 highly trained physicians, healthcare professionals and support staff across Australia, Europe, and now the U.S. This follows our acquisition of major U.S. integrated oncology provider 21st Century Oncology in May 2020.
Every year GenesisCare clinical teams see more than 400,000 people at more than 440 locations. For cancer treatment, that includes more than 300 locations in the U.S., 38 locations in Australia, 14 in the UK and 21 in Spain, with more than 30 new centres under development. We also offer cardiology and sleep services at more than 80 locations across Australia. Our purpose is to design care experiences that get the best possible life outcomes. We believe that care should be focused on the individual, not the condition, and are proud of our world-class patient satisfaction ratings.
References
- Bremnes, R.M., et al., The role of tumor stroma in cancer progression and prognosis: emphasis on carcinoma-associated fibroblasts and non-small cell lung cancer. J Thorac Oncol, 2011. 6(1): p. 209-17.
- Ma, L., et al., Emerging technologies in stereotactic body radiotherapy. Chin Clin Oncol, 2017. 6(Suppl 2): p. S12.
- Cancer Institute NSW. Cancer statistics NSW. 2020 [September 2020]; Available from: https://www.cancer.nsw.gov.au/cancer-statistics-nsw.
- Cancer Institute NSW. Prostate cancer statistics. [September 2020]; Available from: https://www.cancer.nsw.gov.au/learn-about-cancer/cancer-in-nsw/prostate-cancer.
- G. P. Delaney & M. B. Barton, Evidence-based Estimates of the Demand for Radiotherapy. Clinical Oncology (Royal College of Radiologists), 2014. 27(2): p. 70-6.
- Menten, M.J., A. Wetscherek, and M.F. Fast, MRI-guided lung SBRT: Present and future developments. Phys Med, 2017. 44: p. 139-149.
- American Cancer Society. Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer. 2019 June 2020]; Available from: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/treating/radiation-therapy.html.
- Prostate Cancer Foundation. Radiation for Prostate Cancer. July 2020]; Available from: https://www.pcf.org/about-prostate-cancer/prostate-cancer-treatment/radiation-prostate-cancer/.
