Two decades of cancer treatment

BENDIGO Health recently celebrated twenty years of cancer research, consultation, and treatment with the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.

Peter Mac has operated the Bendigo Radiotherapy Centre since 2002 and helped care for over 15,000 people with cancer.

Bendigo Health CEO Peter Faulkner said the partnership between Peter Mac and the hospital has resulted in better outcomes for patients.

“Radiotherapy is a vital part of the integrated regional cancer centre at Bendigo Health,” he said.

“For two decades our partnership has ensured residents have had access to excellent care closer to home.”

Bendigo Health Cancer Centre director Chris White said having the leading cancer centre operate in the region has allowed for developments in treatment and has eased the collaboration between radiotherapy and nursing, allied health, medical oncology, clinical trials and dermatology.

“Having access to more complex treatment options for patients has given staff opportunities for increased exposure and education, which furthers the skills of the staff within the centre,” he said.

“We are pleased that Peter Mac are committed to continue providing radiotherapy services within Bendigo Health’s Integrated Cancer Centre, having recently extended the agreement between our organisations.”

The partnership has been expanded for four more years, with an option to continue until to 2031, and director of radiation oncology at Peter Mac, Dr Claire Phillips, said she is grateful for the relationship.

“With the partnership extended to 2026, we have committed to providing quality, caring cancer care to the Loddon Mallee region,” she said.

The Bendigo Radiotherapy Centre features two linear accelerator treatment machines, which provide more than 13,000 radiotherapy sessions to in excess of 900 patients each year according to Peter Mac.

As a course of radiotherapy treatment requires daily sessions over several weeks, the local centre means Bendigo patients do not have to travel far for their care.