Increasing the accuracy of treatment

Congratulations to the Mater’s Department of Radiation Oncology Principal Medical Physics Specialist, Prof Joerg Lehmann, who was recently awarded funding from the NSW Regional Cancer Research Network.
The funding will go towards a research project aiming to improve the quality and utilisation of breast cancer treatment across the state, through accurate monitoring of the patient position during radiotherapy under breath hold.
Working alongside Prof Lehmann on the project is a core team of radiation oncology experts, including Radiation Oncologist, Dr Jane Ludbrook, Medical Physicist, Prof Peter Greer, and University of Newcastle Medical Physicist, Jose Antonio Baeza.
According to Prof Lehmann, this work will allow the team to optimise their software in a clinical environment and increase the accuracy of radiation treatment, limiting the risk of avoidable radiation to the heart.
“By more precisely monitoring the patient’s position during breast radiotherapy we aim to reduce the side effects of treatment and raise cure rates.” Prof Lehmann said.
Not only will this improve patient outcomes, but the precise nature of the treatment may also allow doctors to reduce the number of treatment sessions required for a patient. For breast therapy, this could mean reducing treatment sessions from 20 to 5.
“Creating a more convenient service, improving access to radiotherapy and reducing travel time is something we are working towards for our patients.”