04-07-2025
'First time it's available': cancer treatment breakthrough at the Mater
A significant breakthrough has been made in the treatment of prostate cancer at the Calvary Mater Newcastle.
It is the first hospital in Australia to use an "MRI-only planning approach" for radiation therapy for prostate cancer in everyday practice.
Dr Sam Dickson, a radiation oncologist at the Calvary Mater, said the research and physics required for the new technology was "quite significant in our field".
"There were many years of background research," Dr Dickson said.
The method removes the need for a CT scan as part of radiation planning.
Dr Dickson said a major benefit of using only an MRI was that "CT spots are available for other patients".
"We can get urgent people in faster than we could have if these prostate patients also needed a CT scan."
He said one benefit for patients receiving the treatment was "a small reduction in radiation dose".
"When you do a CT, you are getting a low dose, but it splashes over other areas.
"With the new approach, the radiation is very targeted."
Patient Paul Doherty said not needing a CT scan meant "less appointments".
"That gives me back time," said Mr Doherty, of Berry Park in Maitland.
On Thursday, he had his 12th of 20 radiation sessions.
"It's a good breakthrough at the Mater with the MRI," he said.
He said having access to a new and more efficient treatment helped his mental approach to the condition.
"And I must say the staff there are excellent," he said.
The 72-year-old was diagnosed with prostate cancer about three months ago.
"I get a blood test every year and that's where it came up," he said.
"I had a high PSA. They found a tumour and I had a biopsy. I had a few options, but I decided to do this one."
The Calvary Mater has been part of studies into the MRI-only method for years.
Previously, patients being treated in this way had to be on a clinical trial.
"We were part of the group that did the research with the CSIRO," Dr Dickson said.
"We do have quite a lot of experience using this method."
It involves generating a "synthetic CT" from MRI data.
"An MRI gives you much better soft tissue definition. You see the prostate much better," Dr Dickson said.
"But previously, you couldn't plan on that alone. You needed to do a CT and fuse them together.
"The CSIRO and industry partners such as Siemens did a lot of research into ways around that, so we could do the radiation planning with just an MRI."
The new method maintains the "same high level of tumour targeting and protection of surrounding organs as before, but makes the planning process more efficient".
"We started with prostate cancer because we had a background and understanding of that," Dr Dickson said.
The hospital continues to use MRI and CT scans to plan treatment for cancers of the brain, head, neck, chest, abdomen and pelvis.
"The hope is we can shift it to other areas, like the brain. That's where the next advance would potentially be."
A significant breakthrough has been made in the treatment of prostate cancer at the Calvary Mater Newcastle.
It is the first hospital in Australia to use an "MRI-only planning approach" for radiation therapy for prostate cancer in everyday practice.
Dr Sam Dickson, a radiation oncologist at the Calvary Mater, said the research and physics required for the new technology was "quite significant in our field".
"There were many years of background research," Dr Dickson said.
The method removes the need for a CT scan as part of radiation planning.
Dr Dickson said a major benefit of using only an MRI was that "CT spots are available for other patients".
"We can get urgent people in faster than we could have if these prostate patients also needed a CT scan."
He said one benefit for patients receiving the treatment was "a small reduction in radiation dose".
"When you do a CT, you are getting a low dose, but it splashes over other areas.
"With the new approach, the radiation is very targeted."
Patient Paul Doherty said not needing a CT scan meant "less appointments".
"That gives me back time," said Mr Doherty, of Berry Park in Maitland.
On Thursday, he had his 12th of 20 radiation sessions.
"It's a good breakthrough at the Mater with the MRI," he said.
He said having access to a new and more efficient treatment helped his mental approach to the condition.
"And I must say the staff there are excellent," he said.
The 72-year-old was diagnosed with prostate cancer about three months ago.
"I get a blood test every year and that's where it came up," he said.
"I had a high PSA. They found a tumour and I had a biopsy. I had a few options, but I decided to do this one."
The Calvary Mater has been part of studies into the MRI-only method for years.
Previously, patients being treated in this way had to be on a clinical trial.
"We were part of the group that did the research with the CSIRO," Dr Dickson said.
"We do have quite a lot of experience using this method."
It involves generating a "synthetic CT" from MRI data.
"An MRI gives you much better soft tissue definition. You see the prostate much better," Dr Dickson said.
"But previously, you couldn't plan on that alone. You needed to do a CT and fuse them together.
"The CSIRO and industry partners such as Siemens did a lot of research into ways around that, so we could do the radiation planning with just an MRI."
The new method maintains the "same high level of tumour targeting and protection of surrounding organs as before, but makes the planning process more efficient".
"We started with prostate cancer because we had a background and understanding of that," Dr Dickson said.
The hospital continues to use MRI and CT scans to plan treatment for cancers of the brain, head, neck, chest, abdomen and pelvis.
"The hope is we can shift it to other areas, like the brain. That's where the next advance would potentially be."
A significant breakthrough has been made in the treatment of prostate cancer at the Calvary Mater Newcastle.
It is the first hospital in Australia to use an "MRI-only planning approach" for radiation therapy for prostate cancer in everyday practice.
Dr Sam Dickson, a radiation oncologist at the Calvary Mater, said the research and physics required for the new technology was "quite significant in our field".
"There were many years of background research," Dr Dickson said.
The method removes the need for a CT scan as part of radiation planning.
Dr Dickson said a major benefit of using only an MRI was that "CT spots are available for other patients".
"We can get urgent people in faster than we could have if these prostate patients also needed a CT scan."
He said one benefit for patients receiving the treatment was "a small reduction in radiation dose".
"When you do a CT, you are getting a low dose, but it splashes over other areas.
"With the new approach, the radiation is very targeted."
Patient Paul Doherty said not needing a CT scan meant "less appointments".
"That gives me back time," said Mr Doherty, of Berry Park in Maitland.
On Thursday, he had his 12th of 20 radiation sessions.
"It's a good breakthrough at the Mater with the MRI," he said.
He said having access to a new and more efficient treatment helped his mental approach to the condition.
"And I must say the staff there are excellent," he said.
The 72-year-old was diagnosed with prostate cancer about three months ago.
"I get a blood test every year and that's where it came up," he said.
"I had a high PSA. They found a tumour and I had a biopsy. I had a few options, but I decided to do this one."
The Calvary Mater has been part of studies into the MRI-only method for years.
Previously, patients being treated in this way had to be on a clinical trial.
"We were part of the group that did the research with the CSIRO," Dr Dickson said.
"We do have quite a lot of experience using this method."
It involves generating a "synthetic CT" from MRI data.
"An MRI gives you much better soft tissue definition. You see the prostate much better," Dr Dickson said.
"But previously, you couldn't plan on that alone. You needed to do a CT and fuse them together.
"The CSIRO and industry partners such as Siemens did a lot of research into ways around that, so we could do the radiation planning with just an MRI."
The new method maintains the "same high level of tumour targeting and protection of surrounding organs as before, but makes the planning process more efficient".
"We started with prostate cancer because we had a background and understanding of that," Dr Dickson said.
The hospital continues to use MRI and CT scans to plan treatment for cancers of the brain, head, neck, chest, abdomen and pelvis.
"The hope is we can shift it to other areas, like the brain. That's where the next advance would potentially be."
A significant breakthrough has been made in the treatment of prostate cancer at the Calvary Mater Newcastle.
It is the first hospital in Australia to use an "MRI-only planning approach" for radiation therapy for prostate cancer in everyday practice.
Dr Sam Dickson, a radiation oncologist at the Calvary Mater, said the research and physics required for the new technology was "quite significant in our field".
"There were many years of background research," Dr Dickson said.
The method removes the need for a CT scan as part of radiation planning.
Dr Dickson said a major benefit of using only an MRI was that "CT spots are available for other patients".
"We can get urgent people in faster than we could have if these prostate patients also needed a CT scan."
He said one benefit for patients receiving the treatment was "a small reduction in radiation dose".
"When you do a CT, you are getting a low dose, but it splashes over other areas.
"With the new approach, the radiation is very targeted."
Patient Paul Doherty said not needing a CT scan meant "less appointments".
"That gives me back time," said Mr Doherty, of Berry Park in Maitland.
On Thursday, he had his 12th of 20 radiation sessions.
"It's a good breakthrough at the Mater with the MRI," he said.
He said having access to a new and more efficient treatment helped his mental approach to the condition.
"And I must say the staff there are excellent," he said.
The 72-year-old was diagnosed with prostate cancer about three months ago.
"I get a blood test every year and that's where it came up," he said.
"I had a high PSA. They found a tumour and I had a biopsy. I had a few options, but I decided to do this one."
The Calvary Mater has been part of studies into the MRI-only method for years.
Previously, patients being treated in this way had to be on a clinical trial.
"We were part of the group that did the research with the CSIRO," Dr Dickson said.
"We do have quite a lot of experience using this method."
It involves generating a "synthetic CT" from MRI data.
"An MRI gives you much better soft tissue definition. You see the prostate much better," Dr Dickson said.
"But previously, you couldn't plan on that alone. You needed to do a CT and fuse them together.
"The CSIRO and industry partners such as Siemens did a lot of research into ways around that, so we could do the radiation planning with just an MRI."
The new method maintains the "same high level of tumour targeting and protection of surrounding organs as before, but makes the planning process more efficient".
"We started with prostate cancer because we had a background and understanding of that," Dr Dickson said.
The hospital continues to use MRI and CT scans to plan treatment for cancers of the brain, head, neck, chest, abdomen and pelvis.
"The hope is we can shift it to other areas, like the brain. That's where the next advance would potentially be."
