Singapore: An 82-year-old prostate cancer patient has become the first person in Australia to be treated using the fast and precise TrueBeam radiotherapy treatment system from Varian Medical Systems. In a treatment carried out at the Crown Princess Mary Cancer Center Westmead, Sydney, the patient received intensity modulated radiotherapy using the newly-installed system. The patient was also invited to unveil a plaque to mark the arrival of the TrueBeam at an inauguration ceremony attended by local dignitaries.

Professor Phillip Yuile, director, radiation oncology at the Westmead Hospital, said that waiting times for radiotherapy treatment in the Sydney area can reach up to 16 weeks. Western Sydney, the region served by Westmead Hospital, has 1.2 million people spread over a large geographic area.

Designed to advance the treatment of lung, breast, prostate, gynaecologic, liver, head and neck, and other types of cancer, Varian's TrueBeam platform for image-guided radiotherapy and radiosurgery is designed to treat tumors, including moving tumors, with speed and precision. Unlike any other treatment device, TrueBeam offers up to six energy levels which enable doctors to customize treatments based on a patient's specific tumor characteristics. Introduced two years ago, TrueBeam is already in operation at more than 230 leading cancer clinics globally.

Professor Yuile believes that TrueBeam has many new imaging and treatment features that will help to enhance treatments. "The conebeam CT images we are obtaining for guiding treatments are first class and should improve our ability to accurately deliver dose to tumors," he says.

"Treatment set up has been made much faster with newly designed handsets and control station that are extremely easy to use. The prospect of using High Intensity Mode for ultra-fast dose delivery and shorter treatment sessions is very exciting and we are looking forward to working with colleagues internationally in offering this," said Professor Yuile.

Mr Stuart Hamilton, sales director, Australasia, Varian, said that, "Crown Princess Mary Cancer Center has made a clear commitment to offer its patients more advanced radiotherapy treatments while being mindful of the need to bring down waiting times. TrueBeam meets these needs and we are honored to be working closely with this world-class radiotherapy department."