A new specialist cancer centre is being built at Lyell McEwin Hospital in Elizabeth Vale, one of Adelaide’s northern suburbs, with funding of $11.5 million provided jointly by the State and Commonwealth Government.

 

The new Cancer Centre will increase the number of chemotherapy

chairs by a third and double the number of patients who can receive radiotherapy locally.

 

Premier Jay Weatherill said the centre was an important milestone in the $339 million redevelopment of the Lyell McEwin Hospital into one of South Australia’s three major tertiary hospitals.

 

“Based in one of our fastest growing districts, a specialist centre with increased capacity to treat and care for cancer patients will make a big difference.”

 

Currently many cancer patients from the State’s north travel to the Royal Adelaide Hospital for treatment.

 

The Lyell McEwin Hospital Cancer Centre will incorporate the existing linear accelerator facility as well as an additional linear accelerator, a 12-chair chemotherapy area and six consulting rooms.

 

The second linear accelerator will be on site and in use by the end of next year.

Linear accelerators are used to treat patients with cancer by delivering a prescribed dose of highenergy x-rays to the patient’s tumour, destroying cancer cells while sparing normal tissue.