The Cancer After Care Group Geelong Inc. recently donated more than $200,000 for the purchase of a Xstrahl superficial radiotherapy machine for the Barwon Health Andrew Love Cancer Centre.
Superficial radiotherapy can be used for the treatment of most malignant skin cancer, and some non-malignant conditions such as keloid scarring. dating right back to the establishment of the centre more than 20 years ago.
The machine works by using low energy x-rays focused on the area to be treated, due to the low energy, the x-ray beam only penetrates the top layer of the skin which avoids irradiation of deeper tissues resulting in reduced scarring.
Superficial radiotherapy treatment has a cure rate equal to surgery and is often the treatment of choice when surgery is too difficult or when it is not suitable due to other medical conditions or factors.
Cancer After Care Group President Libby Bate said that the group were committed to improving cancer care in Geelong,
"Our amazing group of volunteers are still just as dedicated to supporting patients undergoing cancer treatment in Geelong as they were over 20 years ago. We are really pleased that our group could contribute to this exciting new piece of equipment," Libby said.
The Cancer After Care Group regularly fundraise to support the Andrew Love Cancer Centre and can be found the first Tuesday of each month in the main entrance of University Hospital Geelong at their 'Caring Hands' craft stall.
