Cancer patients from remote communities across central west NSW now have a treatment facility much closer to home, following the recent opening of the Western Cancer Centre in Dubbo.

The new centre is the latest major health development to the Western NSW Local Health District, adding to the arsenal of oncology units currently available in Dubbo, Coonabarabran and Cobar

The $35 million facility - which vastly increases pre-existing chemotherapy treatment options in the area - was opened to patients last month beginning with the clinic rooms and reception, due to be followed by new chemotherapy treatment spaces and a communal wellness space this month.

Member for Parkes Mark Coulton called it “one of the proudest days” for him as the local member.

“This facility will allow cancer patients to stay closer to their loved ones during treatment, providing the quality care and support that regional people need and deserve,” Mr Coulton said.

“It will not only benefit families throughout the western region but will be utilised by people right across regional NSW who will no longer have to travel to the city to access life-saving cancer treatment.

Community push

“The support for this centre from right across Western NSW has been overwhelming – this is evident from the 45,961 signatures that I delivered to the Australian Parliament in November 2016, calling for this facility,” he said.

Medical oncologist Dr Florien Honeyball said it was the community drive to have the facility that really got it off the ground in the first place.

“People in this community have been pushing for a cancer centre for the last 20 years,” he said.

“Because of their ongoing efforts, the community can now reap the rewards.”

Critical choice

Dr Honeyball said a big driver for him to get a purpose-built cancer facility in Dubbo was because of the high Radiotherapy Utilisation Rate - in layman’s terms, the number of people diagnosed with cancer you would expect would need to be treated with radiation - for the area.

“At the best practice in the world, it’s about 48 per cent while in Dubbo it’s 27 per cent - that’s one in seven people choosing not to get cancer treatments because of their geography,” he said.

Double the chairs

According to Dr Honeyball, back in 2016 there were only a total of 12 chemotherapy chairs across western NSW.

“Since the push for the new cancer centre, we have also looked at programs like remote video-assisted chemotherapy - we’ve been able to open two units in Cobar and Coonabarabran, with a view to open one in Walgett next year and further afield,” he said.

“Our new centre in Dubbo has 16 chairs - effectively doubling what there was there before.

The new facility effectively doubles capacity for local chemotherapy treatment and introduces new capabilities the facility never had before. Photo courtesy of NSW and federal government.

First radiation facilities

“Also, for the first time, Dubbo will have radiation facilities, including a linear accelarator and an orthovoltage machine which is useful for treating localised skin cancers in sensitive regions.”

Another first for the region is a PET scanner, which is used for detecting and diagnosing cancers, that was only available in Sydney or Newcastle up until now.

Dr Honeyball said even patients who lived a reasonable distance from Dubbo would be able to make the trip in a day, allowing patients to remain at home if they choose.

Treatment closer to home

The proximity benefit was also welcomed by Coonabarabran resident and member of the Coonabarabran Cancer Support Group Jane McWhirter.

Ms McWhirter, who also set up local charity Palliative 4 People after her husband passed away of cancer a few years ago, said having improved services at Dubbo was of great benefit for cancer patients living in the regions.

"I think it's the best thing that's ever come to the region - it means you don't have to go all the way to places like Orange or Sydney to get proper treatment," Ms McWhirter said.

"Dubbo is only an hour and a half from Coonabarabran - it is possible to drive there and back in a day. What's more, they now have the Macquarie Home Stay which is amazing for the ageing population out here who might want to stay there and not have to drive home at 'kangaroo times'."

Ms McWhirter was also highly complimentary of the local oncology units in her town.

"Anyone who's been through chemo doesn't want to be travelling afterwards, in case they get unwell, so being able to do it in their own town is amazing," she said.

"I'm very vocal for getting these kinds of things in country towns, especially the palliative room we got set up in town two, three years ago completely independent of government.

"I think having cancer treatment facilities out here is a really good thing for western NSW - having gone through it myself with my husband and seeing other older people going through their own experiences, (cutting out travelling time) will help a lot of people."