A Bairnsdale man with recurrent localised prostate cancer has become the first patient at Latrobe Regional Health (LRH) to start a clinical trial delivering a new form of radiation therapy.
Gerrit van Rijswijk is taking part in the stereotactic ablative body radiation therapy (SABR) clinical trial in partnership with The Alfred.
SABR delivers a focussed ablative dose of radiation to the prostate, while minimising radiation to surrounding tissues. The trial treatment is delivered in five weekly sessions.
It is open to patients with recurrent prostate cancer confined to the prostate, who have undergone prior radiation therapy.
In the past, these patients would have been deemed incurable, and have limited or no other treatments available to them.
Gerrit was first diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2015 through a routine blood test after which he undertook eight weeks of radiation therapy at LRH.
Gerrit’s follow-up blood tests showed the prostate cancer was under control for many years until 2022 when PSA tests suggested it had recurred.
However, further staging scans revealed the cancer was confined within the prostate alone.
Alfred specialist radiation oncologist Professor Wee Loon Ong said this trial gives Gerrit a second chance of eliminating his prostate cancer.
“In Gerrit’s case, the cancer is still localised to the prostate, and this technology allows us to give more concentrated doses of radiation,” Prof Ong said.
“We will keep following Gerrit’s progress after the trial with regular blood tests, and scans as required.”
The SABR trial is supported by The Alfred and LRH under the Teletrial model, which allows Gippsland patients to have their treatment at LRH instead of having to travel to Melbourne.
“As we come from east Gippsland, it’s feasible to come to LRH as we don’t have to find accommodation and we can do the trip in one day,” Gerrit said.
“Everything can be done at LRH, and I feel more comfortable at a smaller hospital. I feel excited this trial is happening and I hope this will be beneficial to others.”
Prof Ong said delivering specialist care closer to home alleviates some of the stressors regional and rural patients face when accessing treatment.
“This includes the financial and physical cost of taking long periods of time away from work, family and caring responsibilities”, Prof Ong said.
This is the first of a series of prostate SABR trials to be opened at LRH, co-led by Dr Therese Kang, with more trials scheduled to start later this year.
Dr Therese Kang is a part-time Radiation Oncologist at The Alfred and a Prostate SABR fellow at LRH, partly funded by the Latrobe’s Biggest Ever Blokes BBQ charity.
LRH research general manager Jhodie Duncan said partnerships with organisations such as the Australian Teletrial Program, TrialHub and the Radiation Therapy Network were vital to bring innovative trials to LRH.
“Since launching our clinical trials program in 2019, Latrobe Regional Health has been committed to expanding access to high-quality research opportunities for Gippsland residents, ensuring they can receive cutting-edge care closer to home,” Dr Duncan said.
