Kristy Rowe was one of the first patients at Epworth Richmond to be treated with advanced radiation technology for a benign brain tumour, which was initially discovered by chance during a scan for an unrelated condition.
The tumour was small and slow growing, so Kristy, then in her early 40s, took the advice of her medical team and carefully monitored the vestibular schwannoma with annual brain MRIs and hearing tests.
Five years later, when the tumour had grown enough to require active treatment, Kristy, now 46, was able to take advantage of new technology and became one of the first patients at Epworth Richmond treated with Gamma Knife, under the care of Icon Cancer Centre Radiation Oncologist, Dr Neda Haghighi.
For Kristy, a mother of two from Croydon, the availability of this new technology has made a life-changing difference.
The experience has also given her a new perspective on what matters most. Her own father died from brain cancer at just 56, making her particularly aware of how fortunate she is that her diagnosis is not life-threatening.
Gamma Knife is a highly specialised form of stereotactic radiosurgery that uses focused beams of radiation to target abnormalities in the brain with sub-millimetre accuracy, while minimising exposure to surrounding healthy tissue.
Gamma Knife is often used to manage malignant tumours, benign tumours (including vestibular/acoustic schwannomas, meningiomas and pituitary tumours), functional brain conditions and movement disorders (including trigeminal neuralgia, essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease), and vascular conditions (including arteriovenous malformations and cavernoma). In some cases, it’s used when conventional neurosurgery is not possible, or alongside surgery as part of a broader treatment plan.
The new Gamma Knife service is providing patients with greater access to one of the most advanced non-invasive brain treatment technologies in the world, expanding options for people with complex neurological conditions and brain tumours.
Delivered at Icon Cancer Centre at Epworth Richmond, the service is the first private Gamma Knife, and only the second in Victoria, strengthening access to precision radiotherapy closer to home.
For many patients, treatment can be completed in one to five sessions, reducing hospital visits and disruption to daily life.
The new service builds on Icon Cancer Centre and Epworth’s long-standing partnership, which brings together Epworth’s clinical expertise with Icon Cancer Centre’s dedicated cancer care and radiation oncology innovation, enabling patients to access advanced, integrated cancer and precision treatment closer to home. The new Gamma Knife service represents a significant investment in expanding access to advanced, non-invasive brain therapies in Victoria.
“When I first received the diagnosis, I felt surprisingly calm,” Kristy said.
“It was clear from the start that the tumour was benign and very small, so I knew I didn’t have to rush into any immediate decisions. I felt reassured having the time to carefully weigh my options between surgery and radiation.”
Vestibular schwannomas are benign tumours that develop on the nerve connecting the inner ear to the brain. While they can grow slowly or stop growing altogether, they can affect hearing, balance and facial nerve function.
For Kristy, who had no obvious symptoms and whose hearing remained unaffected following her diagnosis, the knowledge that the tumour could eventually impact these nerves was a source of anxiety.
“I was hesitant about surgery due to the risks it posed to both my hearing and my facial nerves, and the recovery time involved,” Kristy said.
Following a referral from her neurosurgeon to Dr Haghighi, Kristy learned more about Gamma Knife and its precision targeting brain abnormalities while sparing surrounding healthy tissue.
“When I learned I would be treated on the brand-new Gamma Knife machine, it brought an immediate sense of comfort,” she said.
“Because it was the facility’s opening week, there were additional Gamma Knife experts on site. For an anxious person like me, seeing that level of specialised supervision offered immense confidence.”
Dr Haghighi, who is the Icon Cancer Centre Victoria Gamma Knife Clinical Lead, said the technology provides an important additional option for patients with complex conditions, like Kristy.
“Gamma Knife enables us to treat complex cranial conditions with exceptional accuracy,” Dr Haghighi said.
“By combining highly focused sub-millimetre radiation beams with high resolution imaging and stereotactic targeting, we can treat challenging, deep brain and skull base tumours and selected non- tumour abnormalities. The accuracy of the Gamma Knife allows us to limit the radiation impact on surrounding healthy brain tissue and critical structures.
“For appropriately selected patients, treatment is minimally disruptive and recovery is commonly rapid, with many able to return to their usual activities soon after treatment.”
Executive General Manager Allison Evans said Epworth Richmond was proud to be the first private hospital in Victoria to offer the ground-breaking Gamma Knife technology.
“Having this world-class precision oncology facility onsite at Epworth Richmond provides our patients with a greater choice of advanced treatment options, all in one place,” she said.
“This non-invasive technology may not only improve outcomes for Epworth patients with complex brain conditions but also minimise the disruption to their lives.”
Icon Cancer Centre CEO, Paul Fenton said the investment in Gamma Knife reflects Icon Cancer Centre’s commitment to expanding access to innovative cancer treatments and precision medicine.
“We continue to invest in the latest technologies and precision oncology to ensure more people have greater choice and access to world-class care, closer to home,” Mr Fenton said.
“Together with Epworth, we are helping expand treatment options for Victorians living with complex brain tumours and neurological conditions.”
Kristy said being treated for a benign tumour had ‘put things into perspective’ for her.
“Receiving treatment at a cancer centre and using a therapy shared by people literally fighting for their lives really puts things into perspective,” Kristy said.
“This experience has motivated me to stay fit, live healthily, and do everything I can to live a long life and be there fully for my two girls.”
