Launch of Stawell Austin Radiation Oncology Service (SAROS)

Austin Health and Stawell Regional Health officially opened the new Stawell Austin Radiation Oncology Service (SAROS) at Stawell Hospital today.

The service uses the latest superficial x-ray therapy to treat skin cancer and other non-cancerous skin conditions, and can save patients the need to go through surgery.

Cancerous or damaged skin cells are more sensitive to radiation and are destroyed by the treatment which is painless, non-invasive and provided at no cost to public patients.”

The service has received crucial support from the Victorian Government which provided $250 000 in funding to allow the purchase of radiation therapy equipment.

The SAROS service is expanding the range of cancer services available at Stawell Regional Health and helping us to make the best possible care available to patients living in the Grampians and surrounding regions.

Patients have not had access to radiation therapy in their local area before now and we hope this new service not only improves their health outcomes but also makes it makes it much easier for the community to access this type of treatment.