Radiation treatment coming closer to home

Cancer patients from Taranaki and Hawke’s Bay could be receiving radiation treatment closer to home within four or five years.

The Palmerston North-based regional cancer treatment service is gearing up for replacement of its four ageing linear accelerators that are used to deliver radiation therapy.

And the chances are that Taranaki and Hastings could provide a base for one each, avoiding the need for patients in those areas to travel to Manawatu¯ for treatment.

The MidCentral District Health Board’s cancer screening, treatment and support cluster acting clinical executive Claire Hardie and operations executive Cushla Lucas said they would be working on a detailed business case for the proposal.

Hardie said the development would be in line with moves to make access to cancer treatment and care fairer for everybody, wherever they lived.

She said not having to travel would improve outcomes for a lot of people.

There were indications, for example, that Taranaki women with breast cancer were opting to have mastectomies, rather than have a lump surgically removed with follow-up radiation therapy, so they did not have to be away from home for three weeks.

Some other patients who could benefit from radiation treatment to manage the pain of terminal cancers were choosing to go without, rather than travel.

Lucas said patients from the wider region would still go to Palmerston North to have their individual treatment plans designed, then would be able to return home for treatment.

Whanganui and Wairarapa patients would continue to receive treatment in Palmerston North. Some more complicated cases would also still have to be handled at the regional treatment centre.

Cancer Society Central Districts chief executive Debra Elgar said having cancer treatment closer to home would make a huge difference for many patients, both physically and psychologically.

‘‘It is very hard to be away from family for a prolonged period, and away from work.

‘‘All of these are added stresses when you are unwell.’’

Elgar said it would also make a difference for cancer centres through the region that invested a lot of effort into providing transport to treatment so patients did not have to drive themselves.

Providing accommodation for cancer patients and their support people while in Palmerston North for cancer treatment has been a huge charitable industry for the Ozanam House Trust.

Trust secretary Roger Clark said the trust has 13 houses providing 68 rooms, and acts as a home away from home for between 400 and 500 people a year.

The changes would see a significant drop in demand for accommodation.

‘‘It is very hard to be away from family for a prolonged period, and away from work.’’

Cancer Society Central Districts chief executive Debra Elgar