The Gamma Knife treats its 1000th patient at Peter Mac
1 min read 09 August 2025
Peter Mac recently reached an exciting milestone after treating the 1000th patient with the Gamma Knife in May.
A cutting-edge piece of radiotherapy equipment, the Gamma Knife was launched at Peter Mac in 2021 with the help of generous philanthropic support, including a gift left by a compassionate donor in their Will. It is the first of its kind in Victoria, and the third in Australia.
The Gamma Knife is a powerful tool that delivers very focused beams of radiation to treat brain tumours. Incredibly precise and non-invasive, it can target single areas deep inside the brain without damaging healthy brain tissue. For many patients, it provides options where traditional surgery would have been risky or impossible.
“Reaching 1000 patients is not just about numbers — it reflects the growing confidence in this highly specialised treatment and the positive impact it’s having on people’s lives,” said Dr Neda Haghighi, clinical lead of the Gamma Knife Service.
Since arriving at Peter Mac, the Gamma Knife has been used to treat many brain cancers as well as some non-cancerous conditions, including neurological and vascular health issues. It is highly effective at targeting difficult-to-treat lesions in the brain, often allowing patients to continue with treatments that destroy cancer cells throughout the body while preserving their quality of life.
The Gamma Knife was co-funded through donations to the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation and the Victorian government. The incredible milestone of 1000 patients highlights the significant impact of gifts to Peter Mac in shaping the future of cancer care, including for many cancers that are often difficult to treat.