The anniversary will be celebrated throughout with events for staff, volunteers and health professionals, culminating in community open days at both sites on Saturday, August 26.

MNCCI commenced operation as a specialist cancer treatment centre in 2007, after many years of planning and development. Construction of the Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour sites began in 2005 and continued throughout 2006. Since its opening, more than 14,500 patients have been treated at MNCCI.

MNCCI has become a leader in cancer treatment within NSW, being the first service of its kind to introduce Electronic Medical Records (EMR) and the first to offer both Image Guided and Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy as routine standard of care. In its early years MNCCI also took the lead in the development of the state based Cancer protocol system, known as eviQ, a system that is now used by thousands of clinicians across Australia and the world.

MNCCI Director of Cancer Services Associate Professor Tom Shakespeare said the opening of MNCCI in Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour meant that patients who previously had to travel to Newcastle or Sydney for treatment were now able to access cancer services locally.

“Being able to provide treatment locally has been a huge positive for patients with cancer,” Dr Shakespeare said.

“People who would otherwise have had to travel to the city and stay for long periods of time to undergo their treatment can now stay in their own homes with their family and friends close by to support them.”

Both MNCCI campuses will host a community open day on Saturday, August 26 from 10am until 2pm. Members of the public are invited to come and join the anniversary celebrations which will include campus tours and a free barbecue lunch.

Events will also be held during the week to thank staff and volunteers for their dedicated service to MNCCI.