There is renewed hope for cancer patients in the Eastern Cape, who need treatment for difficult to reach tumours, following the installation of a new state-of-the-art machine at the Icon Oncology radiation therapy unit, based in Port Elizabeth.
The installation of the multimillion-rand Varian TrueBeam linear accelerator (LINAC) means that patients, who previously had to travel outside of the Eastern Cape for stereotactic treatment, can now receive this advanced cancer treatment in their home province.
According to Dr John Crockett, a medical and radiation oncologist based at the unit, the TrueBeam’s biggest benefit over the equipment it replaces is that it offers a diverse range of radiation therapies.
“In layman’s terms, this means that we can target tumours with extreme accuracy and minimise damage to surrounding healthy tissue. This high-quality LINAC offers sophisticated functionality and is one of the most advanced treatment capabilities available in the world. It also reduces the time it takes to treat a tumour due to its precision, which means a less traumatic experience for patients during treatment.”
The oncology unit can now treat between 50 and 60 patients per day.
“The increase in capacity means that more patients can receive much needed treatment. We would like to partner with the Eastern Cape Department of Health to improve public access to these facilities,” said Dr Jörn Malan, one of the medical and radiation oncologists at the Langenhoven Oncology Centre.
