Liverpool cancer centre unveils new pioneering machine to treat inoperable brain tumours

A Liverpool cancer centre today became the first in the UK to unveil a pioneering machine that could save the lives of patients with inoperable brain tumours. The £2.3m radiotherapy device – called the Novalis Tx – was unveiled at Liverpool’s new Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, next to the Walton Centre in Fazakerley.


It can perform precise and painless treatments in a single visit without damaging surrounding brain tissue. It can also be used on tumours in other parts of the body.

Mr Mohsen Javadpour, Consultant Neurosurgeon at The Walton Centre, said: “The technology allows us to track and treat difficult-to-treat cancers such as tumours really deep in the brain where open surgery is too dangerous.

“Another great benefit of the knifeless Novalis Tx treatment over open brain surgery is the incredibly reduced recovery times for patients. Most treatments can be performed as a day case or will require a minimum hospital stay.”

The machine is set to be used for the first time next week, when the new £17m centre officially opens.

Marina Dalglish, herself a cancer survivor, has been raising £5m towards the build through her charity, the Marina Dalglish Appeal.

It will be run by Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology and reduce travel times for cancer patients living north of the River Mersey.

Dr Brian Haylock, Consultant Oncologist and Clinical Director for Radiotherapy at Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology, said the radiotherapy machine has potential to be very widely used: “Unlike some other highly specialised radiation treatment machines, the Novalis Tx can treat many different types of cancer all over the body, allowing us to treat more cancer patients with a single device.”

The Marina Dalglish Appeal is running a buy-a-brick campaign to help reach its £5m target. For more details, go to http://www.marinadalglishappeal.org/

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