MORE cancer patients than ever are receiving lifesaving cancer treatment in Mount Gambier thanks to the chemotherapy suite at the city’s hospital.
The chemotherapy unit – opened as part of the Mount Gambier Hospital’s $30m redevelopment two years ago – is now treating the majority of regional cancer patients who need chemotherapy fusions.
New figures show 1100 services were provided in the suite last financial year.
And in a first, the six-bed unit has also made a breakthrough in providing treatment for people living with multiple sclerosis.
It is now administering a drug known as Lemtrada to prevent sufferers from relapsing.
Country Health SA South East regional director Jayne Downs said this was a major step forward for people living with multiple sclerosis in the region.
“Multiple sclerosis is a condition people live with for a long time,” Ms Downs said.
She said multiple sclerosis was unpredictable in nature with patients having “ups and downs” in their journey with the disease.
Chemotherapy and infusion unit manager Nebu Mathew said the drug being administrated “tackled the underlying” problem and helped to stabilise a patient’s condition.
“Patients can go on this drug as long as it keeps working,” Mr Mathew explained.
He said the treatment was cutting edge in the treatment of multiple sclerosis and helped to stop degradation of the brain’s neurons.
Meanwhile, Ms Downs said she was pleased the “medium risk” chemotherapy suite was able to treat the majority of cancer patients who needed fusions.
“There are 15 chemotherapy units across country SA and the Mount Gambier suite is the busiest,” the regional health chief said.
Although some people with higher risks needed to receive treatment in a tertiary metropolitan hospital, Ms Downs said most people would be able to access treatment here.
“The number of people needing treatment in Adelaide would now be in the minority,” she said.
Moreover, the health chief said some patients who needed to start their chemotherapy treatment in Adelaide but could later receive treatment in Mount Gambier.
Regional cancer patients also have access to a wide range of health professionals at the Mount Gambier Hospital, including a dedicate cancer care coordinator, a breast cancer nurse, an oncology nurse practitioner and a visiting oncologist.
“We really do have a good wrap-around service,” Ms Downs said.
“The visiting oncologist has been coming to Mount Gambier Hospital for some time and shares her time between here and Whyalla,” Ms Downs explained.
Nurses working in chemotherapy are also accredited and trained in this area.
The new cancer centre in Warrnambool is also giving regional people the choice when needing radiotherapy services.
“People who need that type of service – which requires quite complex technology and facilities – now have the option of going to Warrnambool instead of Adelaide,” Ms Downs said.
