Breast cancer surgeon Professor Christobel Saunders with the new portable radiotherapy equipment. Picture: Megan Powell
Treatment of early breast cancer is set to to be revolutionised in Australia, as thousands of women get access to an “express” radiotherapy technique tested in WA.
From tomorrow, eligible women can have a Medicare-funded form of radiotherapy that is given in a single 30-minute session during their surgery instead of conventional treatment over six weeks.
Doctors say it will save money and be safer and more convenient for women.
Using a technique known as targeted intra-operative radiotherapy, or TARGIT, a machine directs radiation directly to tissue at the site of the tumour.
University of WA researchers tested it on 300 WA patients as part of an international study to examine its effects on more than 2000 patients over the age of 45.
Leading breast cancer surgeon Christobel Saunders, who is deputy head of UWA’s school of surgery and consultant surgeon at Fiona Stanley Hospital and St John of God Hospital, Subiaco, said it was exciting to see Medicare approve a new treatment for the first time in many years.
The research at QEII Medical Centre found that 30 minutes of radiation using TARGIT could replace time-consuming radiotherapy.
The treatment also has fewer side effects.
“We’re delighted to see good evidence-based research translated into policy for the benefit of so many women, and at times, in the face of some fierce opposition,” Professor Saunders said.
“For eligible patients with early breast cancer, 30 minutes of in-theatre radiation could replace the more expensive and inconvenient six weeks of external beam radiotherapy.
“As well as the obvious benefits of completing all the necessary radiotherapy in a single session at the time of surgery, this method also almost completely avoids irradiation of other parts of the body.”
David Joseph, co-chairman of the TARGIT steering committee and consultant radiation oncologist at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, said the Medicaresubsidised treatment would reduce waiting lists.
There would also be substantial savings for healthcare systems where breast cancer could account for a third of the workload in radiotherapy departments.