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Auckland Radiation Oncology (ARO)

Private Service, Radiation Oncology, Oncology

Today

7:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Description

ARO has a world class reputation for distinction in radiation therapy cancer treatment. Established in 2008, ARO is New Zealand's first private radiation oncology facility. Our purpose built private radiation therapy centre delivers treatment in a modern, comfortable and discreet setting.

Patients are offered a choice of timely, best possible radiation therapies (some may not be available elsewhere) aimed at improving cancer treatment outcomes. 

The team of highly skilled and experienced radiation oncologists, radiation therapists, physicists and nurses are committed to the highest standards of clinical skills and personal care.

ARO's team works closely with each patient to develop and deliver a personal treatment plan. Free parking is offered onsite.

ARO offers the convenience of radiation therapy, pre and post treatment care, laboratory and radiology providers, a pharmacy and support from Mercy Hospital, all in one central location.  


The Team

Staff

Each ARO staff member is carefully selected for their skills, experience and commitment to patient care and treatment outcomes. Together they work closely with the radiation oncologists to deliver world class treatment and care to suit each individual patient. Learn more.

Radiation oncologists working with ARO

Consultants

Referral Expectations

By referring a patient to Auckland Radiation Oncology your patient will receive the best personalised treatment and care.

ARO consultants regularly participate in Multidisciplinary Meetings (MDMs). This means the radiation oncologists (R.O's) work closely with other specialists such as surgeons and medical oncologists to review specific cases and discuss treatment options so each patient’s care is personalised and aligned.

Patients are usually seen by an ARO consultant within a week of referral. Depending on consultant availability there are no waiting times for a simulation CT scan or treatment commencement once a treatment plan has been decided.

Patients: Video and learn about the patient treatment journey

Medical Professionals:  Referral information.

Fees and Charges Description

An indication of cost of treatment will be provided once the oncologist has developed a specific care plan for the patient.

There are three choices of payment:

  • Direct payment to ARO
  • Payment direct from an overseas agency
  • Private health insurance. If treatment is covered by your health insurance plan, before your treatment planning appointment, prior approval must be obtained from your health insurance organisation. The team at ARO are happy to assist you with this; please contact them on (09) 623 6046 or email them at 

You are welcome to contact ARO if you have any questions about treatment costs, insurance claims and payments. 

Hours

7:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Mon – Fri 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Procedures / Treatments

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy uses special equipment to deliver high doses of radiation (beam of x-rays) to kill or damage cancerous tumours so they cannot grow or spread. Radiation therapy affects only the tumour and the surrounding area. Normal cells may be affected by radiation, but most appear to fully recover from the effects of the treatment. Some cancers are very sensitive to radiation but not all. Radiotherapy is usually given in small doses over a period of time; this is known as a course. A doctor who manages your radiotherapy is called a radiation oncologist. To learn more about the treatment and techniques provided at ARO click here. Possible side effects: The peak of any side effects experienced may occur around 7 to 14 days after the completion of radiation therapy. This is due to the cumulative nature of the treatment. Most side effects only last a few weeks but some of the effects, such as tiredness, may last for a couple of months after the end of your treatment. However, patients should gradually start to feel like normal again. For two weeks after completing treatment we advise patients continue with any special skin care instructions. We also advise patients to avoid direct sunlight on the treated area, and to avoid baths and using hot pools until any skin reaction has completely healed. The skin in the treatment area will always be more sensitive to the sun so patients should apply sun-block to any exposed, previously treated skin when going outside. Should patients have experienced a skin reaction they should not apply sunscreen to the treated skin until it has completely healed. A few patients experience some long term side effects. These can develop gradually over several months or years and will be monitored by the specialist team. Radiation therapists are highly trained and skilled health professionals who work in conjunction with the radiation oncologist to coordinate, design and implement your treatment programme. Radiation therapists work in coordinated teams and will be involved in all aspects of your care. Patient Treatment Book (PDF, 3.1 MB) The patient treatment book is designed to share important information specific to receiving radiation treatment at ARO. It covers what to expect before, during and after radiation therapy treatment.
Radiation therapy uses special equipment to deliver high doses of radiation (beam of x-rays) to kill or damage cancerous tumours so they cannot grow or spread. Radiation therapy affects only the tumour and the surrounding area. Normal cells may be affected by radiation, but most appear to fully recover from the effects of the treatment. Some cancers are very sensitive to radiation but not all.
 
Radiotherapy is usually given in small doses over a period of time; this is known as a course. A doctor who manages your radiotherapy is called a radiation oncologist. To learn more about the treatment and techniques provided at ARO click here.
 
Possible side effects:
The peak of any side effects experienced may occur around 7 to 14 days after the completion of radiation therapy. This is due to the cumulative nature of the treatment. Most side effects only last a few weeks but some of the effects, such as tiredness, may last for a couple of months after the end of your treatment. However, patients should gradually start to feel like normal again.
 
For two weeks after completing treatment we advise patients continue with any special skin care instructions. We also advise patients to avoid direct sunlight on the treated area, and to avoid baths and using hot pools until any skin reaction has completely healed.
 
The skin in the treatment area will always be more sensitive to the sun so patients should apply sun-block to any exposed, previously treated skin when going outside. Should patients have experienced a skin reaction they should not apply sunscreen to the treated skin until it has completely healed.
 
A few patients experience some long term side effects. These can develop gradually over several months or years and will be monitored by the specialist team.
 
Radiation therapists are highly trained and skilled health professionals who work in conjunction with the radiation oncologist to coordinate, design and implement your treatment programme. Radiation therapists work in coordinated teams and will be involved in all aspects of your care.
  • Patient Treatment Book (PDF, 3.1 MB)

    The patient treatment book is designed to share important information specific to receiving radiation treatment at ARO. It covers what to expect before, during and after radiation therapy treatment.

CyberKnife Robotic Radiation Therapy

In 2022 ARO invested in a high-precision radiation oncology system called CyberKnife which dramatically reduces the treatment time and impact of radiation therapy on patients. ARO is the first radiation oncology provider in New Zealand to offer this next wave of cancer treatment. In certain types of cancers, CyberKnife is more accurate than traditional radiation therapy, with potentially thousands of smaller beams delivering radiation to the tumour with sub-millimetre precision, minimising damage to surrounding healthy structures and organs. CyberKnife is highly suited for well-defined tumours located close to important healthy tissue as found in the brain and spine. The CyberKnife detects any movement of the patient or the tumour, and will automatically move the robot to ensure that the cancer is always precisely targeted. This allows for higher doses of radiation to be delivered to the tumour each day, substantially shortening overall treatment times whilst minimising any unwanted side effects. Recently published research has shown that for prostate cancer, treatment can be offered on the Cyberknife over a reduced number of days (5 instead of 20) with similar outcomes and lower side effects. The same research has shown that when comparing radiotherapy delivered over 5 days against surgery for prostate cancer, the radiotherapy side effects result in far fewer bladder and sexual function complications.

In 2022 ARO invested in a high-precision radiation oncology system called CyberKnife which dramatically reduces the treatment time and impact of radiation therapy on patients. ARO is the first radiation oncology provider in New Zealand to offer this next wave of cancer treatment.

In certain types of cancers, CyberKnife is more accurate than traditional radiation therapy, with potentially thousands of smaller beams delivering radiation to the tumour with sub-millimetre precision, minimising damage to surrounding healthy structures and organs.

CyberKnife is highly suited for well-defined tumours located close to important healthy tissue as found in the brain and spine. 

The CyberKnife detects any movement of the patient or the tumour, and will automatically move the robot to ensure that the cancer is always precisely targeted. This allows for higher doses of radiation to be delivered to the tumour each day, substantially shortening overall treatment times whilst minimising any unwanted side effects.

Recently published research has shown that for prostate cancer, treatment can be offered on the Cyberknife over a reduced number of days (5 instead of 20) with similar outcomes and lower side effects. The same research has shown that when comparing radiotherapy delivered over 5 days against surgery for prostate cancer, the radiotherapy side effects result in far fewer bladder and sexual function complications.

Stereotactic Radiation Therapy

Stereotactic Radiation Therapy (SRT) is a type of external radiation therapy that uses immobilisation systems to position the patient and precisely deliver radiation to a tumour. The total dose of radiation is divided into several smaller doses (or fractions) given over several days. SRT is used to treat tumours of the head and neck. Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy, also called Stereotactic Ablative Radiation Therapy (SABR) is used in the treatment of other types of cancer, such as lung or gastrointestinal cancer. What differentiates stereotactic from conventional radiotherapy is the precision with which it is delivered. The end result is the delivery of high doses of radiation with sub-millimetre accuracy.

Stereotactic Radiation Therapy (SRT) is a type of external radiation therapy that uses immobilisation systems to position the patient and precisely deliver radiation to a tumour. The total dose of radiation is divided into several smaller doses (or fractions) given over several days.

SRT is used to treat tumours of the head and neck. Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy, also called Stereotactic Ablative Radiation Therapy (SABR) is used in the treatment of other types of cancer, such as lung or gastrointestinal cancer. What differentiates stereotactic from conventional radiotherapy is the precision with which it is delivered. The end result is the delivery of high doses of radiation with sub-millimetre accuracy.

Refreshments

The Mercy Ascot Campus has a Cafe that serves coffee, hot and cold meal options and light refreshments. This is a 2 minute walk from ARO.

Travel Directions

Located on the Mercy Hospital site, Epsom, Auckland, ARO has easy access to and from the motorway.

Mercy Hospital is approximately 6 kms from Auckland City Centre. The shopping area of Newmarket is a five-minute car journey from the hospital. 

The journey from Auckland International Airport is less than 20kms.

Once on Mountain Rd, please enter through the main gate and follow the carpark signs. To be eligible for free parking, you must provide your vehicle registration number at the ARO reception, so your parking can be validated. Please do not enter your licence plate number into the parking machine in the carpark, as you will be charged.

Public Transport

It is easy to access ARO by public transport. Please click here for Auckland transport services. The building is located towards the back of the Mercy Hospital campus.

Parking

Free visitor and patient parking is available in the on-site parking building using the main gate, Mercy Hospital, 98 Mountain Road. You may park in any undesignated or ARO designated car park on level 1. To be eligible for free parking, you must provide your vehicle registration number at the ARO reception, so your parking can be validated. Do not enter your licence plate number into the parking machine in the carpark, as you will be charged.

If it is more convenient there is a drop off/pick up zone on the level 1 car park.

A short walk along the link bridge leads you from the parking building into the MercyAscot building where you will turn right up the short flight of stairs to ARO. There is a lift available if you prefer.

Street parking is also available on the surrounding roads: Gilgit Road, Almorah Road and Mountain Road. Map for location of the parking building and ARO.

Accommodation

ARO is located in Epsom, Auckland. There are a number of accommodation options nearby.

Pharmacy

There is a pharmacy conveniently located on the ground floor of the Mercy Hospital campus. Please ask the ARO reception staff for directions.

Website

aucklandradiationoncology.co.nz/

Contact Details

98 Mountain Road, Epsom

Central Auckland

7:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Use our online contact form

98 Mountain Road
Epsom
Auckland

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Street Address

98 Mountain Road
Epsom
Auckland

Postal Address

PO Box 9911
Newmarket
Auckland 1149

This page was last updated at 1:53PM on May 15, 2024. This information is reviewed and edited by Auckland Radiation Oncology (ARO).