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Official Opening Of Radiation Treatment Centre
Official Opening Of Radiation Treatment Centre
A retired Te Awamutu farmer who was the first patient to receive high dose radiation brachytherapy treatment at Waikato Hospital's Oncology Department 17 months ago says he would thoroughly recommend the procedure.
Brian Oyler is one of more than 50 people to receive treatment at the Regional Cancer Centre in Waikato Hospital, utilising brachytherapy equipment bought last year. The treatment was "100 per cent successful," he said.
The equipment was purchased by the Waikato District Health Board, with assistance from a Waikato / Bay of Plenty Cancer Society grant and became the first region in the country to offer this form of high dose radiation treatment.
In particular, men with intermediate and high grade prostate cancer benefit from brachytherapy which delivers radiation treatment into or close to the source of a person's cancer. Other specific cancers can also be treated.
Judy Gould, Cancer Society Chief Executive, says the grant of more than $365,000 was the society's largest one-off grant to date.
"We were very pleased to be able to assist the Waikato DHB in purchasing this equipment and also in helping to refurbish the patient treatment room.
"It is wonderful to know that people in our region can receive world class cancer treatments."
On Tuesday 31st July, 10.30am, the brachytherapy treatment room will be officially opened with the unveiling of a new plaque on Level 01 of the Lomas Building at the Regional Cancer Centre, Waikato Hospital.
The plaque officially recognises the contribution the Cancer Society has made towards assisting the Waikato District Health Board purchase brachytherapy equipment and to refurbish the treatment bunker room.
A pilot study of 20 patients was done before Mr Oyler's treatment at Waikato Hospital to determine requirements for the service.
Waikato DHB medicine and oncology service manager Neil McKelvie said the Oncology Department treated Mr Oyler, its first prostate patient, on February 9 last year.
Instead of having the usual seven weeks radiation treatment, Mr Oyler had five weeks. His recovery was effortless and he was now able to resume a normal life.
In June 2006, the national forum of District Health Board chief executives agreed that Waikato and Capital and Coast would be the lead DHBs providing high dose radiation brachytherapy services.
Waikato DHB would provide services for the Northland, Auckland, Counties-Manukau, Northland, Waitemata, Bay of Plenty, Lakes and Waikato DHB residents.
Alterations took place on an existing bunker within the Oncology department which allowed patients to receive the full treatment in Oncology outpatient department and remove the need to transfer to the operation theatre for part of the treatment.
To date there has been more than 50 patients treated using the procedure at Waikato Hospital.
The Oncology Department employs 164 people - including 33 medical staff and 60 nurses.
ENDS
Waikato District Health Board
Healthy People. Excellent Care
Waikato District Health Board (DHB) employs over 6500 people and plans, funds and provides hospital and health services to more than 391,770 people in a region covering eight per cent of New Zealand.
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