I was diagnosed with a high-grade neuroendocrine cancer in September last year and I had the choice of having treatment through either Newcastle Mater Hospital or the North West Cancer Centre based at Tamworth hospital.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Living in Scone meant that travelling times were approximately equal.
After having a PET scan at the Mater, where there were serious parking and traffic problems, as well as being a huge establishment, we decided to have treatment through Tamworth, as we thought the country atmosphere was more to our liking.
After months of treatment there was no doubt in our minds that we had made the right choice.
From the start of my treatment with my oncologist, Associate Professor Dr George, who, when we first met him in his rooms in Tamworth, explained that my treatment would be decided by a collaborative group of doctors from the radiation therapy at the North West Cancer Centre, there was not one time we felt that we were not receiving the best treatment because we were in a country location.
My chemotherapy was able to be undertaken at Muswellbrook hospital (20 minutes from home) where a three-chair treatment room allowed for very personal treatment by three excellent, caring nurses, who made the regular visits as pleasant as they could.
While chemo is not an enjoyable experience, the benefits of being very close to home and in familiar surroundings, with the same staff each time, made the whole process quite relaxed.
Another bonus was that Dr George made regular monthly visits to Muswellbrook to see his patients, which was very convenient for us.
After my chemotherapy was completed, I undertook a 20-day course of radiation at the North West Cancer Centre in Tamworth under the direction of Dr Robert Smee, an Associate Professor at the Prince of Wales Hospital, who flies up from Sydney each week to oversee the treatment.
We found out that Dr Smee has been doing this for nearly 30 years – what dedication that is.
One of our concerns was how we would cope with travelling each day, but we were told that there was subsidised accommodation for cancer patients having treatment in Tamworth at Inala House, which is a facility in the hospital grounds within walking distance of the cancer centre. Both Inala House and the cancer centre offer modern facilities with wonderful, friendly staff.
During our five-week stay at Inala House, we met wonderful people from Inverell, Glen Innes, Boggabri, Coolah and all northern parts of our state.
We also encountered familiar faces each day at reception and in the treatment room, as well as the ever-caring volunteers, who were always available to get cups of tea and coffee as well as assist with any inquiries.
This made the whole process a very relaxed one.
At Inala House, it was possible to mix socially with fellow patients and their carers in a very relaxed atmosphere.
Some residents stayed in the comfort of their rooms when they were not up to the social chit-chat, but many were able to share tales and their life experiences.
This was a great way to assist in coping with the treatment and the illness all were suffering.
The facilities at Inala House are excellent, with each room well-equipped, a TV room, laundry, as well as a courtyard for quiet reflection.
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Tamworth and were very grateful to have had such wonderful doctors, nurses and facilities available to us in Tamworth.
The big lesson we learnt was that you don’t have to travel to large city centres and stay in unfamiliar surroundings to get the best care and receive excellent treatment.
The same drugs, scans and treatments are used in Tamworth as are used in the city.
People in the North West of NSW should be very confident that their local hospital and doctors are able to offer treatments to cancer patients that are of the highest standard.