Donor-funded Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT)

Thanks to the generous support of the Carcione Foundation and other donors, St John of God Health Care has become the first private hospital provider in Australia to introduce a rapid radiation treatment for breast cancer, called Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT). 

The $1.1m IORT equipment was purchased with philanthropic donations made to St John of God Foundation to support advanced treatment options for breast cancer patients at St John of God Subiaco Hospital.

IORT treatment reduces a patient's treatment time from between three to seven weeks of daily radiation, to a single, targeted treatment that is administered during the surgical removal of breast cancer.

After a patient’s tumour is removed, and before the incision is closed, radiation is delivered to the area where the tumour was located to provide a precise therapeutic dose where local recurrence is most likely to occur.

St John of God Subiaco Hospital Breast Surgeon Professor Christobel Saunders AO said, “Compared to traditional radiation, IORT delivers a more tailored, precise and localised treatment. It also offers significant convenience to eligible patients.”

“By dramatically reducing treatment time and minimising side effects, patients can spend more time and effort focusing on their recovery and can resume daily activities sooner, which we know can help to bring back a sense of normality.”

“IORT is particularly beneficial to women working full-time and also rural patients, who previously had to arrange and pay for accommodation for extended periods of time when coming to Perth to receive treatment.”

Robert Carcione of the Carcione Foundation said, “My family has had a strong connection with St John of God Subiaco Hospital for more than 30 years. It’s a pleasure to be able to give back to the hospital and to the community, a value which was instilled in us by my father.”

Thanks to the commitment of our generous donors, we are able to support St John of God Health Care to provide advanced treatment options for patients in our communities.

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