The privately-owned facility announced late last year an agreement between the Department of Health and Humans Services and Goulburn Valley Health to allow both public and private patients access to the world class care.
The star of the centre is the Varian TrueBeam linear accelerator machine. The machine is at the heart of the facility as it delivers highly targeted doses of radiation to cancer patients.
Federal Member for Nicholls Damian Drum said the official opening was a huge step forward for cancer care in the Goulburn Valley.
“The Federal Government is very proud to have assisted with the purchase of the advanced linear accelerator machine, which is now being used to deliver radiation therapy for local patients,” he said.
“The shared arrangement means everybody that needs treatment can access (it) right here,” he said.
Having already treated 70 patients since Christmas, the centre is expected to reach between 400 and 500 patients per year.
Shepparton's Stephen Finch has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and was one of the first patients treated at the new facility.
He said having cancer services locally made having cancer as pleasant as it could get.
“I used to have to travel to Bendigo for treatment and sometimes I would have to stay there for up to five weeks,” Mr Finch said.
“But now I come down here, say hi to everyone, and within a few minutes I'm getting treated and then you get to go home all within the hour.
“You get to continue your life and it doesn't feel like you're a cancer patient every hour of the day.
“This local service has really improved my life and I know it will help so many more,” he said.
Twelve experienced and well-respected oncologists, nurses and support staff head the centre.
Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell had been a strong advocate for the centre and allowing access to public patients.
Ms Lovell said she shed a tear or two when she heard public patients would have access to the facility.
“We've lived so many of the patients’ journeys during our campaign to get the funding,” Ms Lovell said.
“Unfortunately one of those patients are no longer with us but I've had other patients who were part of the campaign to say how pleased they were,” she said.
The service comes as the Federal Government has committed $26 million to a comprehensive cancer centre to be built in the coming years at Goulburn Valley Health.
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