Croakey Health Media published an article on Friday 28th February entitled - "Action is urged on new cancer treatment as medical radiation professionals gather for Conference" Medical radiation professionals will meet from 27th - 30th March 2025 in Adelaide at the trans Tasman conference of the Australian Society of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy and the New Zealand Institute of Medical Radiation Technology, amid the ongoing uncertainty regarding a proton therapy center in Adelaide. Read Full Article Here

Pediatric chordoma and the role of proton therapy Pediatric chordoma is a rare type of bone tumor that develops from small remnants of the notochord, a structure present in early fetal development. Chordomas are rare, affecting about 1 in 1 million people worldwide, and only approximately 5% of all chordoma cases are in children. With modern treatment options, the outlook for children with chordoma continues to improve. Because chordomas tend to develop in complex areas like the base of the skull or spine, a team of specialists is needed to carefully plan treatment. Surgery is often the first step, aiming to remove as much of the tumor as safely as possible. However, because complete removal can be challenging, additional treatment like radiation therapy is usually recommended to help prevent the tumor from coming back. The key to an effective radiation treatment plan is delivering a high enough dose to target the tumor while carefully limiting exposure to surrounding healthy tissues and critical structures. For children and young adults, reducing the amount of radiation that reaches the rest of the body is especially important to lower the risk of long-term side effects, including secondary cancers. Because of its precision, proton therapy is often the preferred option for treating chordoma. It allows for high doses of focused radiation to the tumor while minimizing unnecessary exposure to nearby healthy areas. To ensure the best outcome, it’s critical to work with a team of doctors, surgeons, and radiation oncologists who can provide personalized care and manage all aspects of your child’s treatment. Connecting with other families and support groups can also provide comfort and help you feel less alone on this journey. Getting a chordoma diagnosis can feel very overwhelming, but it's important to know that you are not alone. We are here  to support you every step of the way.  For more information: https://www.chordomafoundation.org/children-and-young-adults/

Dr. D. Indelicato has treated several Australian children with proton therapy who have travelled to Florida for inoperable brain tumour treatment over the years. In June 2024, Dr. Indelicato was invited to speak at the biennial Paediatric Radiation Oncology Society Meeting in Sydney. Danny shared his expertise around what Austalia should know about setting up proton therapy in Australia. During his visit Dr Indelicato also caught up with a previous patient, Audrey and her mother Sue who travelled from Australia to the US at aged 5 to have a benign, but inoperable brain tumor treated by proton therapy as no service or treatment was available in Australia. To read the full story click here .

In 2023 The Federal Government and Cancer Australia published a report entitled, "Strategy for Proton Beam Therapy for Cancer Patients in Australia" Table 1, of the report details Proton Beam Therapy machines per million people internationally. Australia, with a population of 26 million would be 6th internationally with three proton beam therapy machines, 13th with two machines and 18th internationally with one. At present there are no proton beam machines in Australia. See : https://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/key-initiatives/strategy-proton-beam-therapy-cancer-patients-australia