Cancer specialists from Campbelltown Hospital’s Macarthur Cancer Therapy Centre will open their doors to local GPs to help share information about treatment options for local cancer patients.
The Oncology Education Evening, on tomorrow night, Wednesday, May 6, is part of the national Targeting
Cancer campaign run by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR) to help educate GPs about what their patients may experience when coming to the centre for treatment.
Radiation oncologist Dr Mei Ling Yap said the focus will be on radiation therapy, which may benefit up to half of all patients diagnosed with cancer.
“The evening will be a unique opportunity for our GPs to learn more about how radiation therapy can benefit a patient either for cure or for alleviation of symptoms like pain,” Dr Yap said.
“Hopefully sharing information with GPs will help equip patients and other healthcare professionals with more knowledge about radiation therapy.
“We aim to raise awareness of radiation therapy as an option to ensure that all patients are receiving the best care possible.’’
Dr Yap said the Education Evening is particularly timely, as the centre has recently acquired two new, state-of-the-art radiotherapy machines.
“One machine is already treating patients, and the other will begin treating patients in mid-2015, which means the centre will have improved access for patients of the Macarthur region to some of the best radiation therapy available”.
