Auckland Radiation Oncology

25/06/2026

What does the future of radiation therapy look like? According to Auckland Radiation Oncology's Chief Physicist Dr Ian Hanson, it's becoming increasingly precise, personalised, and powered by artificial intelligence.

Ian recently attended the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology’s annual congress, ESTRO26, in Stockholm. One of the world's leading radiation therapy conferences, ESTRO provides invaluable insights about new technologies and treatment techniques.

"The ESTRO Congress is in an important opportunity for us to connect with and learn from international colleagues, ensuring ARO continues to bring the latest innovations and evidence-based treatment options to patients here in New Zealand," says Ian.

This year, he says the growing adoption of AI feature was a key theme.

“Across the health sector, AI is already helping clinicians by streamlining administrative tasks such as clinical notetaking, allowing doctors and nurses to spend more time focused on patient care. In radiation therapy, it is also playing an increasingly important role in the creation of highly complex treatment plans, helping to improve precision, consistency, and efficiency,” says Ian.

Another highlight was the presentation of long-term results from the FASTRACK II trial, which investigated stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) for patients with primary kidney cancer that was unsuitable for surgery. After a median follow-up of five years, the trial showed both local tumour control and cancer-specific survival were reported at 100%.

“These results are exciting because they reinforce the growing body of evidence supporting precision radiation therapy approaches, including the treatment options available through ARO's CyberKnife® robotic radiation therapy programme,” says Ian.

13/06/2026

When it comes to treating prostate cancer with radiation therapy, precision matters.

That’s because the prostate can move unpredictably due to normal bodily functions, making it hard to target radiation precisely when using traditional methods.

Auckland Radiation Oncology is New Zealand’s only provider of CyberKnife – an advanced, non-invasive radiation therapy system that continuously tracks prostate movement during treatment and automatically adjusts radiation delivery in real time.

CyberKnife's unique Synchrony motion tracking technology monitors movement and synchronises radiation beam delivery to the tumour's exact location, helping maintain exceptional accuracy throughout treatment.

Backed by more than 20 years of clinical evidence, CyberKnife provides patients:
• Precise, personalised radiation therapy
• Continuous tumour tracking during treatment
• Non-invasive, non-surgical treatment
• Shorter treatment schedules vs conventional radiation therapy

To see how CyberKnife's Synchrony motion tracking technology works and how it continuously adapts treatment delivery to prostate movement in real time, watch this short video from Accuray, the makers of CyberKnife: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1zTDNNPnTM&t=14s

If you'd like to learn more about whether CyberKnife may be suitable for you, speak with your specialist or contact Auckland Radiation Oncology.

To learn more about Accuray and its products, visit accuray.comFol...

09/06/2026

CyberKnife is a well-established technology used worldwide to treat cancer patients.

In the USA, ex-NASA engineer and avid golfer, Jeff opted for treatment with CyberKnife after being diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer.

Jeff says the decision came about after he was offered three radiation treatment options: insertion of radioactive seeds into his prostate, conventional radiation therapy or CyberKnife radiotherapy.

“To me, I read these options as “slow, faster, fastest” as far as treatment times go,” Jeff said.

Wanting to get rid of the cancer as quickly as possible, Jeff opted for CyberKnife radiotherapy.

When asked about the treatment experience, Jeff described it as “wonderful” and added that, as he experienced minimal to no side effects with CyberKnife treatments, he was able to maintain his usual routine during his treatments – including daily rounds of golf.

Our thanks to Accuray, manufacturer of CyberKnife, for capturing Jeff’s story. You can learn more about his journey with prostate cancer and CyberKnife here: https://cyberknife.com/patient_stories/jeffs-story/

In New Zealand, Auckland Radiation Oncology is the only provider of treatment with CyberKnife. Learn more here about CyberKnife treatment for prostate cancer: https://aucklandradiationoncology.co.nz/cyberknife-prostate/

28/05/2026

Having the right people around you when you’re navigating cancer makes a huge difference – as demonstrated by our amazing North Shore receptionist, Nadine.

A truly special person, Nadine’s warm smile, calm presence and genuine care results in regular positive feedback from patients and their families.

As ARO’s CEO, Kate McLellan puts it:
"Nadine makes a real difference to every patient. She helps put people at ease and brings a moment of comfort to what can be a difficult time. She becomes an important part of our patients’ journeys, with many saying they'll miss her when treatment ends.”

Nadine says the most rewarding part of her role is helping patients to feel seen as people.

"Taking time to find something they're interested in or passionate about helps build a genuine connection, making their time here feel a little lighter," she says.

This is the ARO difference, and it’s why we're so proud to have Nadine on our team.

21/05/2026

While undergoing a series of five CyberKnife treatments for prostate cancer, Auckland Radiation Oncology patient Alan often thought about a friend receiving traditional radiation therapy overseas at the same time.

“He had to have around 30 treatment sessions for his prostate cancer. It was significantly more difficult,” Alan says.

Prostate cancer patients receiving CyberKnife treatment typically only need five 30-minute treatments, which can be completed over 10 days.

ARO is New Zealand’s only CyberKnife provider, offering treatment at its Epsom clinic, which is conveniently located less than five kilometres from Auckland’s CBD.
You can read Alan’s full story, and learn more about CyberKnife for prostate cancer here: https://aucklandradiationoncology.co.nz/news/alans-story-cyberknife-treatment-for-prostate-canc/

11/05/2026

Today is International Nurses Day – a perfect opportunity to acknowledge the incredible care and impact delivered by our nursing team at Auckland Radiation Oncology.

Like all our teams, our nurses are laser-focused on ensuring every person we treat has the best possible care experience. That dedication shows up regularly in the feedback we receive from patients and their loved ones.

Ngā mihi nui ki a koe. We are so very grateful for you all!

02/05/2026

CyberKnife has transformed how we treat cancer in the brain at Auckland Radiation Oncology. It can precisely target multiple, tiny tumours, sometimes in just a single treatment session, while protecting healthy brain tissue.

There’s no surgery and it continuously adjusts for even the smallest patient movements to maintain pinpoint accuracy.

It's a major step forward – enabling us to treat more tumours, with more precision than conventional radiotherapy.

As the only provider of CyberKnife robotic radiation therapy in the country, we are proud to offer this non-invasive treatment to patients across New Zealand. Learn more about CyberKnife here: https://aucklandradiationoncology.co.nz/treatment-techniques/cyberknife/

29/04/2026

Keeping our team at the forefront of innovation and knowledge in cancer care and radiotherapy is central to how we deliver the best possible care for our patients.

Recently, Auckland Radiation Oncology Radiation Therapist Steph Reddington travelled to Hobart to attend the 2026 Australian Society of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy (ASMIRT) Conference – a leading forum for advancements in medical radiation sciences.

This year’s conference focused on resilience, innovation and collaboration across the profession with key themes including trauma and survivorship, mentoring and clinical education, and embracing diversity in healthcare.

For Steph, the experience was both professionally enriching and personally rewarding:

“It was extremely valuable for my professional development. We learned about some of the latest trials and new research within cancer and radiotherapy. I also saw some of the new Elekta radiation treatment machine updates - including the new integrated console and the new couch top.

We heard about the evolving role of Advanced Practitioners within the radiotherapy pathway, and we also heard powerful survivor stories from within our profession. As well as plenty of learning, I had a great time catching up with old colleagues and making some new friends and contacts.”

22/04/2026

Meet Aish, our amazing Clinical Tutor and CT Treatment Trainer – pictured here (centre), with two recent graduates who joined ARO at the beginning of the year, Leila (left) and Manveen (right).

Aish plays a vital role in supporting both our current and future radiation therapy workforce in delivering exceptional patient care.

She works closely with radiation therapy students during their clinical placements, ensuring they gain meaningful, hands-on experience while building confidence in a supportive environment.

She also supports new graduate radiation therapists as they transition into clinical practice, providing guidance, mentorship, and structured onboarding to help them develop safely and effectively.

Alongside this, Aish collaborates with the wider Radiation Therapy team to design and deliver consistent training programmes, helping ensure a robust, standardised approach to competency development, ongoing learning, and patient safety across all levels of practice.

For Aish, the most rewarding part of her role is seeing people grow:
“I like watching people grow – seeing that moment when a student or new graduate starts to believe in themselves and becomes confident in their skills. Knowing I’ve played a small part in that journey is really meaningful to me.”

You can learn more about how ARO is building New Zealand’s future radiation therapy workforce – alongside insights from our graduates on what inspired their careers, why they chose ARO, and how they are developing in a supported environment with leading technology here: https://aucklandradiationoncology.co.nz/news/aro-investing-in-the-next-generation-of-radiation/

Ngā mihi nui ki a koe Aish – we are very lucky to have you on our team!

15/04/2026

“When my doctor suggested CyberKnife® as an option, I grabbed it with both hands.”

When Tom began experiencing symptoms that could be linked to prostate cancer, he acted quickly – a decision that ultimately led him to CyberKnife® treatment at Auckland Radiation Oncology.

After surgery, Tom was referred to discuss his radiotherapy options. He chose CyberKnife®, an advanced robotic radiotherapy that delivers highly targeted treatment with sub-millimetre accuracy – requiring just five short, painless sessions.

Tom’s story highlights not only the importance of acting early, but also the availability of world-leading prostate cancer treatment here in New Zealand. With fewer treatments required than conventional radiotherapy, patients from across the country are choosing to travel to Auckland to access this advanced form of care.

Read Tom’s full story and learn more about CyberKnife® at Auckland Radiation Oncology:

“When my doctor suggested CyberKnife® as an option I grabbed it with both hands,” says Tom Logan – an Auckland Radiation Oncology patient, who recently received treatment for prostate cancer using CyberKnife®.