Pauline ‘honoured’ to be first in new unit

A WATERHEAD great grandma is the first patient treated at The Christie’s new radiotherapy unit.

Pauline McKinlay (74) had a 12-hour session at the £3.8 million unit, which houses the UK’s largest brachytherapy service.

Brachytherapy is mainly used to treat prostate, cervix, womb or lung cancers, and gives high doses of radiotherapy directly into the tumour, with the surrounding healthy tissue receiving a much lower dose.

Pauline is being treated for cancer of the womb. She said: “I feel honoured to be receiving treatment in this new environment. I’ve been nervous about my treatment, but being in an area that’s light, airy and comfortable makes all the difference.”

The new unit will also deliver molecular radiotherapy, another form of specialised treatment used for thyroid and neuro-endocrine cancers. Patients are given radioactive pharmaceuticals as a drink or capsules, or by injection.

The state-of-the-art unit, based at the Christie hospital in Wythenshawe, houses seven single rooms, two two-bed rooms and a four-bed bay.

The Christie’s chief executive, Caroline Shaw, said; “Through providing these treatments in the highest quality environment and integrating these services we will be able to significantly improve the patient experience.

“It will also enable us to cope with any future increased demand and improve the quality of care for patients, using cutting-edge techniques.