Oncology patients rarely require a single service and we offer combined medical and surgical oncology on-site with full internal medicine support. This is the only centre in Victoria where this multi-disciplinary approach is available, allowing us to offer the best care for our cancer patients. We have access to the full range of diagnostic and therapeutic options that are needed. We have Melbourne's only onsite veterinary MRI which is the best tool for investigating the local extent of tumor spread.
The role of the medical oncologist is not just to give chemotherapy. It is to coordinate the management of the cancer patient. Our team is trained in the staging, assessment of general health, palliative care as well as the administration of chemotherapy. Once the patient has been fully assessed, should surgery be required, we have the benefit that the case can be directly discussed with the specialist surgery team. In many cases both sides will have a large input into the management. The surgeon's role is in assessing the patient for surgery, performing the surgery and taking care of the post operative care. In many cases the medical team then takes over for adjunctive care, most often chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy is an important component of cancer management with many tumours showing benefit from its use. It is not only useful in lymphoma, where it has been most widely used, but a wide range of tumours including sarcomas, carcinoma, mast cell tumours and other round cell tumours can have significantly better outcomes with its use. Chemotherapy is also not a matter of following a recipe. Each case needs to be individually assessed and the treatments tailored depending on the response and tolerance. With Peter Bennett's experience and knowledge, more aggressive treatments are possible without significantly increasing the risk of toxicities.
As well as assessing the patients for their cancer and its effects, all patients are assessed for concurrent health conditions that might affect the treatment by the appropriate member of the team. In some cases these additional problems require therapy to improve the tolerance of the patient to the cancer treatment. This assessment can make the difference in obtaining a successful treatment of a patient with cancer.
Our oncology resident, Maureen and Intern Laura, along with the specialist skills of Peter Bennett and Simon Kudnig, are the frontline team in our cancer service. Both Maureen and Laura have considerable experience in general practice; and Maureen has successfully achieved membership of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists in Small Animal Medicine. Both have been working exclusively in oncology since joining us.
Having such a team allows increased availability to cancer care for your clients. Maureen and Peter are likely to be the initial point of contact for many of your clients while all team members are available for telephone advice on any case that you have with cancer.
Close supervision by all of the specialists, particularly Peter and Simon, allows us to offer the most up to date information from all disciplines to tailor the best care for our cancer patients.
At the time of consultation a case management plan is designed for each patient; depending on the case further diagnostics, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and supportive care might be required. With each client we thoroughly discuss all the available options, costs, toxicities and expected outcomes.
Involvement in clinical trials allows us to offer improved cancer care and potential access to treatments that are in advanced development and not readily available for clinical use. Any involvement in clinical trials only occurs after extensive discussion with clients where all therapeutic options are explained. Peter has developed links with several research institutions, including the Peter MacCallum, to facilitate these options.
