Cancer survivor Cambell McMaster, 13, tests out the new state-of-the-art PET/CT scanner at the Randwick Hospitals Campus.
ONE day, Cambell McMaster hopes to be a doctor.
If the brave cancer survivor's early determination is anything to go by, he won't have a problem achieving that goal.
Last week the 13-year-old, who was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2007 and underwent treatment at the Sydney Children's Hospital, saw a dream come true when Health Minister Jillian Skinner officially opened a multi-million dollar Positron Emission Tomography (PET)/CT scanner at Prince of Wales Hospital.
It was a proud moment for Cambell and his family, who donated $35,000 they raised through a sponsored Sydney Harbour Bridge climb and a charity auction towards the machine.
After reaching the five-year-all-clear mark in November last year, Cambell's mum Ellen said it was good to see her happy son getting on with life.
He now attends Yanco Agricultural High College and is a keen AFL player and cricketer.
"We are all happy the project is complete and would like to acknowledge the local community, especially Hillston, Griffith and Leeton and those who supported us through difficult times," Mrs McMaster said.
"It was very special for Cambell and another cancer survivor who has done a lot of work towards making this project happen, Jayde Bell to be invited as special guests for the opening.
"It is good to see the PET scanning machine up and running at the hospital.
It is doing its job of scanning for active cancer cells in the body with minimal radiation exposure, allowing accurate diagnosis and enabling accurate treatment decisions to be made in the treatment of cancer in adults and children from across the country."
Prior to cutting the ribbon to officially open the scanner, Mrs Skinner unveiled a plaque to honour Cambell and Jayde Bell, 13, who was diagnosed at age nine with Ewing's sarcoma and helped raise awareness of childhood cancer by meeting then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and writing to Prince William and Prince Harry..
"I am delighted Jayde and Cambell are so well and I thank them for their determined advocacy. They displayed maturity beyond their years," Mrs Skinner said.
"This scanner will make an enormous difference to the lives of paediatric and adult patients alike."
Pictured: Cancer survivor Cambell McMaster, 13, tests out the new state-of-the-art PET/CT scanner at the Randwick Hospitals Campus, under the watchful eye of Dr Eva Wegner, Head of PET Service, Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET, Prince of Wales Hospital, Member for Vaucluse, Gabrielle Upton MP, NSW Minister for Health, Jillian Skinner, Member for Coogee, Bruce Notley-Smith MP and Bruce McBride, Chief Physicist, Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET, Prince of Wales Hospital.