Cancer treatment closer to home eases burden
8 Feb 2017
8 February 2017
Sharon was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in November 2014 and underwent immediate radiation therapy and chemotherapy in Moorabbin, followed by surgery to remove the cancerous tumour.
“It was a tough time. I was travelling a two-hour round trip to Moorabbin once a week for treatment. My surgery went for 14 hours and I was in hospital for two weeks followed by more recovery time at home,” Sharon said.
After the surgery, Sharon started a round of treatment at the St John of God Berwick Day Oncology Centre as one of the centre’s first patients. Since then, she has been back to the centre once more for another round of chemotherapy.
Sharon said moving her treatment to the new St John of God Berwick Day Oncology Centre was the best decision she has made regarding her treatment, as she now has more time with family and there is less disruption to her life.
“It was a blessing - I wish I had done it earlier.”
“It’s down the road and what was a stressful day trip for me and my husband, as he would have to take time off to drive me for treatment in Moorabbin as it was so far away, is now a half-day appointment which I can drive to myself because it’s so close.
“The staff are fantastic; from the reception to the nurses to the chemist. They treat you like family and really get to know you as a person. They know by just looking at you when you enter the door if you are having a good or bad day and if it’s bad - they try to make it better.
“Just sitting with you and having a chat, or closing the curtains, sitting and holding your hand and putting their arms around you until you are ready to face the world again."
The St John of God Berwick Day Oncology Centre has seen more than 4,000 local patient admissions since opening in March 2015, who otherwise may have had to travel to Melbourne or surrounding areas for treatment.
It is next door to the new $120 million St John of God Berwick Hospital, under construction, that will open in late 2017.