Follow up news: Australian first procedure delivers astonishing results
2 min read 22 June 2023
Sitting at home in Swan Hill in Victoria’s north, patient Darrell Hampton, 69, has nothing but a “red dot” on his head where a melanoma tumour used to be.
He was the first Australian patient to be treated for melanoma with electrochemotherapy - a procedure where chemotherapy is injected directly into the tumour followed by small electrical pulses delivered by a device that looks like a large pen.
These zaps temporarily open the cell membrane allowing the chemo to enter the cells, before the membrane closes off and the drugs get to work to kill the cancer.
For Darrell, this was an alternative to surgery which would have meant a complex reconstructive procedure and obvious scarring – and having already had surgery on the area, he was open to trying an alternative treatment after the melanoma returned.
“He’s doing brilliantly – he’s had a complete response to the treatment from this single dose,” Peter Mac’s Dr Hayden Snow, who undertook the procedure said.
“The tumour became blackened and died and that scab came off and the underlying skin has healed really well – we’re hopeful that the melanoma won’t return this time.”
Darrell was in-and-out in a morning, the procedure taking just 20 minutes.
“There was nothing to it. No pain or anything, just some mild vibrations during the procedure and then I was off home later that day,” Darrell explains.
“Being the first Australian having this done was really good – but I don’t really care what the procedure is, as long as it works.”
“But it was great to have this option available and I think it really was preferable to surgery, all I have left behind is a tiny red dot.”
Dr Snow says that while the treatment won’t be suitable for every melanoma patient, it is another important tool in Australia’s arsenal against this common cancer.
“Darrell’s results really are everything we would have hoped for when we undertook the procedure a few months ago – the team is really excited about the potential of this treatment for suitable patients.”
“Less downtime and less scarring, it’s a win for patients who have a tumour like Darrell’s, delivering a great result with a less visible reminder of their cancer.”
Darrell is due for follow up scans in a few months and will remain on ongoing monitoring.
There is fantastic potential for the use of electrochemotherapy in Australia, with other states now following Peter Mac’s lead and investigating this less invasive procedure.
The electroporation machine used in the procedure was funded by the Peter Mac Auxiliary.
The Auxiliary rely on an army of volunteer knitters and sewers from across Australia to stock their gift shop, with all sales directly supporting important projects across the centre.