The Alan Walker Cancer Care Centre at Royal Darwin Hospital continues to lead the way in cancer care in the Territory through a new radiation therapy technique that minimises the risk of side effects to the heart in breast cancer patients.

The technique, called Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH), is used for patients with left-sided breast cancer. Patients take a deep breath and hold it, which moves the heart away from the left breast while radiation is delivered.

"This is a fantastic advance for patients in the Territory with left-sided breast cancer,” radiation oncologist Dr Scott Carruthers said. “It’s a reasonably simple technique but allows us to deliver a more targeted dose of radiation and avoid radiation exposure to the heart.”

Patients are coached through their treatment by radiation therapists and the radiation is delivered only when the heart is away from the chest.

Dr Carruthers said patients often felt a sense of control with the Deep Inspiration Breath Hold treatment. 

“A great feature of this new system is that patients can view their breathing motion and breath hold on a display screen during the treatment so they are much more aware of and involved in their own treatment.”

The Alan Walker Cancer Care Centre radiation oncology team implemented another technique recently, helping to ensure Territorians can receive their treatment closer to home.

Stereotactic Ablative Radiation Therapy (SABR) is a cutting-edge technique used to delivery highly-focused doses of radiation to very small cancer lesions in the lungs. Nineteen patients have been treated using this technique, which is delivered with millimetre accuracy. Stereotactic Ablative Radiation Therapy typically involves between one and five treatments, meaning fewer trips to the hospital and better outcomes for patients.

The Alan Walker Cancer Care Centre has been delivering high quality cancer treatment to Territorians since it opened in 2010, carrying out more than 55,000 treatment episodes.

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