Border residents have been thanked for their instrumental role in providing new state-of-the-art equipment for the cancer centre which will help attract specialist practitioners to the region.
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Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre Trust Fund board member Anthony Liston said through bake sales, sausage sizzles and corporate partnerships $800,000 had already been raised this year.
On Tuesday he announced grants worth $315,000 as well as a $200,000 annual commitment to the centre for three years.
Operational Director Medicine Services Rachel Andrew said a high definition endoscope, known as a rhinolaryngoscope worth $265,000 would be purchased.
Ms Andrew said the equipment would not only mean Border residents could be treated locally, but would help attract a high calibre of specialists to the region.
Albury-Wodonga will be one of only a handful of regional centres to have the state-of-the-art equipment by Christmas.
“In our head and neck clinic it will allow for on the spot diagnosis of potential cancers,” she said.
“When people in the community donate to the trust it’s the patients who reap the benefits.”
Ear, nose and throat Surgeon Eliza Tweddle said not only can the equipment identify potential cancers the laser component can resect any abnormalities.
“Currently, before we have access to the equipment patients are sent to Melbourne or Sydney,” she said.
“It’s a significant issue, they need days off work, there’s the accommodation costs and if they require further treatment there’s ongoing costs being away from home.
“We know patients treated in their local area have better outcomes.”
Dr Tweddle said all ear, nose and throat surgeons were trained to use the laser and endoscope, but most end up in a regional centre that doesn’t have the equipment.
She said 200 patients presented with head and neck cancers on the Border annually and there was an urgent need for the equipment.
“Cancer cases across the Border are going up, some of which is down to early detection and some because cancer is generally up,” she said.
The trust also announced $24,700 for an electronic geriatric assessment of older patients, $12,700 for height adjustable beds and information technology, and $9400 for staff training.
Mr Liston called on the community to continue their generosity so the centre remained on the forefront of cancer treatment.