New $8million cancer scanner a potential lifesaver: Minister

23/12/02
Doctors will be able to detect cancers much sooner, thanks to the installation of a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital.
The $8million PET scanner and cyclotron facility is believed to be one of the most expensive single pieces of medical infrastructure ever purchased for the Western Australian public hospital system.
"The PET scanner's ability to detect cancers at an early stage of development means lives will be saved," Mr Kucera said.
The PET scanner is a first for the WA public hospital system and will be particularly useful in the early detection of a range of cancers, including melanomas, colo-rectal cancer and non-small cell lung cancer and glioma.
Its installation also means that patients who used to travel to the Eastern States for PET scans can now stay in Perth.
"In the 12 months to September 30 this year, 214 patients from all over WA had to visit the Eastern States for PET scans," the Minister said.
"The vast majority of those patients required a carer to accompany them - representing a total cost to the public health system of $506,930.
"Clearly having our own facility not only benefits patients but means precious health dollars won't be directed into non-core areas such as accommodation and travel."
Mr Kucera said the PET facility included a cyclotron, which will come on line next year.
The cyclotron will manufacturer the isotopes used to 'trace' chemical activity occurring inside human tissue.
"This is cutting edge technology," the Minister said.
"Rather than providing anatomical images of the structure of organs and tissues, the PET maps physiological and chemical changes to metabolism.
"This allows doctors to identify - with pinpoint accuracy - exactly where cancer cells have formed and often at an earlier stage than other forms of imaging, such as x-rays, CT scanners and MRIs."
Mr Kucera said the WA PET/Cyclotron Service would be fully operational by April 2003.
At the moment, the service is completing about five tests per day, five days a week, using isotopes imported from other States but this number is expected to double once the centre is fully operational next year.
The PET facility was purchased and built with a $4million contribution from the State Government and $3.85million from the Commonwealth.
Minister's office: 9213 7000