Cutting-edge equipment brings care closer to Mackay homes

The Icon Cancer Centre in Mackay which has been providing comprehensive cancer care to the local community for just over one year, has recently installed an isolator that will allow the manufacturing of more medicines on-site that would otherwise require patients to travel out of town to receive.

71-year-old, Ailsa Stroppiana, a proud born and bred Mackay local was diagnosed with breast cancer 30 years ago where she had to travel and stay in Brisbane for several weeks at a time for treatment.

“All that travelling makes you really tired. It was exhausting going back and forth to Brisbane, it just gets a bit much at times,” Ailsa said.

“This isolator allows us to manufacture and deliver these medications to cancer patients, and people living with blood disorders, further relieving some of the stress associated with chronic conditions and allowing them to receive all their care close to home and their loved ones.”

Moving forward, this equipment will also provide the opportunity to introduce clinical trials at the centre, aligning with the recent announcement of Icon signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Queensland’s leading Medical Research Institute, QIMR Berghofer. This MoU will provide important opportunities to translate research into clinical practice and provide better outcomes for cancer patients.

“This isolator will allow us to manufacture medications that are part of current and future clinical trials so we will be able to offer national and international trials right here in Mackay. Icon has a strong commitment to research and is always looking for new ways to deliver the best care possible. Our MoU with QIMR will provide further opportunities to develop new treatments and be at the forefront of cutting-edge health developments for the benefit of cancer patients now and into the future,” Dr Irving said.