When Marilyn de Haas was diagnosed with advanced skin cancer, doctors told her the melanoma and the tumours it had caused would not respond to chemotherapy or radiation.
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The 78-year-old from Stratford in southeast Victoria is the first Australian to take part in a clinical trial to treat metastatic melanoma.
The trial spans hospitals in the UK, Germany, France, Canada and United States, but she will be getting her treatment an hour's drive from home at Latrobe Regional Health.
"The team explained the trial to me really thoroughly, I had no doubts at all, and I am so thrilled to be the first patient on this trial in Australia," Ms de Haas said.
Regional Victorians are 40 per cent more likely to be diagnosed with melanoma than their metropolitan counterparts, but only about a third of these patients can access treatment locally, according to Alfred hospital research.
"It's made such a difference to my experience and reduced my stress by not having to drive to the city," Ms de Haas said.
Latrobe Regional Hospial's medical oncology head Quan Tran said bringing world-class trials to the regions was an amazing achievement.
"The trial provides our melanoma patients with access to more treatment options that would not otherwise be available in the region," Dr Tran said.
"When someone is battling cancer, being closer to home and loved ones during their treatment journey is invaluable."
Ms De Hass is getting on with her daily business, playing regular lawn bowls and has booked a trip on the Ghan railway.
"The support I've had is great, the staff are fantastic," she said.
"After my first dose of treatment, I am feeling 100 per cent with no side effects so far."
Australian Associated Press
