<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A radioactive paste that is applied to skin cancer is proving to be successful and could potentially rule out the need for surgery.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Joanna Mountney, 48, was recommended for surgery to have a pin-sized lump on her ear cut out, until she discovered the non-invasive alternative with no downtime.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I was booked in for surgery, to have a wedge incision cut out of my right ear," she said.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/louisville-united-states-postal/f0722233-0e0b-443c-b5f8-f3b3516f6621" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Death toll rises after horror plane crash in Kentucky</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They would reduce the size of my ear by approximately one third."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mountney opted for the less invasive treatment called Rhenium-SCT.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's a radioactive paste applied onto the skin cancer. It's indicated for lesions that are less than 3 millimetres thick," John Flynn Private Hospital Associate Professor Sid Baxi said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/radioactive-paste-that-could-remove-need-for-surgery/f05fe394-72ef-45b1-b01d-47cf36043326" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Two-in-three Australians will experience skin cancer in their lifetime.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I sat comfortably in my chair, playing on my phone for approximately 90 minutes. And that was it," Mountney said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It took several weeks for the scab to heal.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I'm so happy with the results." </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/zohran-mamdani-elected-mayor-of-new-york-us-politics-live-updates-news/dfd58ac8-b087-4110-988a-2525164ed0df" target="_blank"><strong><span>Anti-Trump politician elected New York mayor</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Twelve-month results from the largest study of the TGA-approved treatment on 184 patients show the overall response rate was 97.3 per cent, while 94 per cent of lesions had a complete response.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We looked at pain and discomfort during the treatment session, it was zero per cent," Baxi said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We had positive results in cosmetic outcomes as well."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Experts say the outcomes are similar to surgery and better than topical medications.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Things like Efudix is a topical cream, Aldara. These treatments have an efficacy of about 50 to 70 per cent," Baxi said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-election-results-donald-trump-virginia-new-jersey-live-updates-usa/1d7a9c41-2a83-40fd-bdee-49a5f77ab307" target="_blank"><strong><span>Trump has failed his first electoral test of his second term</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The procedure can only be performed by a doctor who specialises in radiation treatment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There is no government subsidy, however funding is under review.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The cost ranges between $5000 and $10,000, depending on the size and number of lesions.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I would like to see my children be able to access a treatment like this into the future," Mountney said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The key component of the radioactive resin is manufactured in Sydney at the Lucas Heights facility.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple App Store</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>.</span></em></strong></div></div>