Peter Mac’s new Elekta Gamma Knife In 2019, I reached out to Jennifer Doubell the foundation director at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute in Parkville Victoria. For many years I’d taken a keen interest in their work, and I discussed with Jennifer the possibility of supporting a bigticket item project. On a tour of their new facility, she told me of the new Elekta Gamma Knife which had been ordered and was going to be installed in 2019/20. With my love of big machinery, it ticked all the boxes with me. She sent me updates but when I viewed the installation film clip I was hooked and looked forward to seeing this new kit in action.
The Gamma Knife is not actually a knife; it is a non-invasive stereotactic radiosurgery and radiotherapy device used to deliver highly accurate doses of radiation to treat small to medium size lesions inside the skull.
After a cup of tea, we were soon down in the bowels of their amazing facility being shown the sleek Gamma Knife in its lead lined room. Circling around to the control room where talented technicians delighted in explaining to me how everything works, I soon found myself staring at a screen showing a patient with an Acoustic Neuroma. “Ahhh—there’s something I know a thing or two about.” In 2003 I was diagnosed with an ‘acoustic neuroma’ – a non-cancerous tumour that grows on the acoustic nerve. This nerve is responsible for controlling hearing and balance. Within days of diagnosis, I lost about 50% of hearing in one ear. At the time, surgical removal came with significant risks, but surgery was my best local option. I underwent an 11-hour operation and made a full recovery except for the loss of hearing in that ear. Astoundingly, patients can now receive their Gamma Knife treatment and go home the same day! “A vast improvement on the 8 weeks it took me for a full recovery.” Phil says. “For patients who have benign brain tumours, lumps that grow particularly at the base of the skull where it’s hard for a surgeon to access, radiation offers an equivalent probability of controlling the tumour, but with very few side effects, so they don’t have to undergo an operation. They don’t have to stop driving. 12 | Pressroom Philanthropy Year in Review 2021
I can only marvel at the power of the advances of technology and of the Gamma Knife." - Phil Taylor - CEO - Pressroom Philanthropy They don’t have the risks of surgery.” Dr Claire Phillips, Department of Radiation Oncology Acting Director, and lead clinician for the Gamma Knife Service at Peter Mac said. Thanks to generous philanthropic support from the community, Peter Mac was able to secure this cutting-edge radiotherapy device which was equally co-funded by
the Victorian Government. It is expected to treat up to 500 patients per year. Pressroom Philanthropy has become a major supporter too.
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre is a world leading cancer research, education and treatment centre and Australia’s only public health service solely dedicated to caring for people affected by cancer. Find out more at www.petermac.org
