An average of 12 high-level skin cancer surgeries are performed on patients in Albury-Wodonga per month thanks to equipment funded by the Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre Trust Fund.

A $345,000 grant was made to Albury Wodonga Health for a new surgical microscope, specialised skin graft machine and other related equipment in 2020.

This has enabled plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Dr Queenie Chan, to perform up to 150 high-level skin cancer removals per year.

Among those to benefit was Rutherglen stockman, Stephen Cooper, who underwent a five-and-a-half operation to remove a skin cancer from his lip in February 2021.

Dr Chan worked in partnership with ear, nose and throat surgeon, Dr Eliza Tweddle, to remove the skin cancer and perform a reconstruction with tissue taken from Mr Cooper’s left thigh.

“There was only two operations like it in Australia at that stage, and to think one was done here in Albury-Wodonga,” Mr Cooper said.

“I couldn’t have had two better people looking after me. I’m very happy with the outcome.”