Associate Professor Tom Shakespeare, Radiation Oncologist with North Coast Cancer Institute Lismore, has introduced 10,000 international colleagues to the ground-breaking work in prostate cancer treatment being undertaken in local facilities operated by the Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD).
A/Prof Shakespeare presented two papers at the American Society for Radiation Oncology’s (ASTRO) recent annual meeting in Chicago.
The gathering heard A/Prof Shakespeare speak on world-first programs that are improving healthcare for regional patients.
“The first paper was an evaluation of patient involvement in choosing their cancer treatment through shared decision-making with their oncologist,” A/Prof Shakespeare said.
Patients involved in the research were provided with a decision aid to help them choose between two radiation therapy options in the cure of prostate cancer.
“This high degree of patient involvement is a world first, putting the patient at the centre of their care planning alongside their treating specialist.”
The second presentation discussed the outcomes of research involving men from the North and Mid North Coast areas using PET scans to help target radiation therapy to the prostate and lymph nodes.
“In the past, men with prostate cancer which has spread to the lymph glands were thought to be incurable, but modern advances in radiation therapy and PET scan imaging mean we can offer curative radiation.”
“The early results show that after two years, 100 percent of patients had their prostate cancer controlled, with minimal side-effects. It brings new hope for men whose prostate cancer has escaped from the prostate, that there is a potential for a cure,” A/Prof Shakespeare added.
The Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) has a strong focus on clinical trials and quality assurance programs, building on its research and innovation capacity since NCCI first opened in 2010.
“Everything that we do in research is about helping the people in our community by providing world-class locally-based services,” A/Prof Shakespeare said.
