Your cancer journey
Everyone’s cancer journey is different. At times, it can be confronting and challenging for you, your family and carers.
Safe, quality care close to home
The Integrated Cancer Service at Rockingham General Hospital provides safe, high- quality, personalised care close to home as you navigate your cancer journey.
To make your journey as easy and comfortable as possible, our hospital-based medical and allied health services work in partnership with an external radiation oncology provider.
Our services are supported by compassionate staff who deliver comprehensive evidence-based outpatient treatments and therapies.
If you have concerns or questions at any stage of your journey, please discuss these with our staff, who will answer them in the best way possible.
What is cancer
Normally your body’s cells grow and reproduce in an orderly way. Occasionally, some cells reproduce in an uncontrolled way, and these abnormal cells may grow into a lump called a tumour.
If a tumour is benign, you do not have cancer and the tumour will not spread to other parts of the body.
If a tumour is malignant, you do have cancer. The cancer cells may also spread beyond the area where it first developed. Left untreated, these cancer cells may invade and destroy surrounding tissues.
Some people have blood cancer, such as leukemia or lymphoma. This develops when blood cells are not made properly and spill out into other tissue and organs.
There are more than 200 different kinds of cancer, each with their own name and treatment.
To learn more, visit Healthy WA (external site) or Cancer Council (external site).
Cancer treatments
Cancer treatments vary from person to person, depending on:
- their type of cancer
- how far the cancer has spread (what stage it is), or its haematological malignancy for cancer of the blood or lymph nodes
- their overall general health
- their personal treatment choices.
Cancer treatment generally includes one, or a combination, of treatment methods, including:
- chemotherapy (external site)
- endocrine therapy (external site)
- targeted therapy (external site)
- immunotherapy (external site)
- radiation oncology (radiation therapy) (external site)
- surgery (external site)
- palliative care (external site).
Read more about cancer treatments (external site).
Other therapies
Some therapies, including targeted therapy, immunotherapy and endocrine therapy, may be suitable for selected tumour types. These therapies have different side effects to conventional chemotherapy.
Understanding your treatment options
Our Integrated Cancer Service staff strive to provide you with the best understanding and knowledge of your treatment options.
It is important you fully understand the treatment offered to you. We encourage you, your family members or carers to always ask questions or for more information whenever you need to.
Managing side effects
Many people with cancer experience some side effects as a result of their treatment.
Speak with your treating team or visit Cancer Council (external site) for advice on how to manage and relieve side effects.
Support is available
Whether the cancer journey is your own or you are supporting a loved one or friend, you may appreciate finding reliable information or speaking with someone who is familiar with the issues you are facing.
Please speak with your treating team if you feel you would benefit from additional support.
In an emergency
Please go to your nearest emergency department (ED). If you are having chemotherapy or immunotherapy, present the ED staff with your purple card.
Contact us
For appointment queries, please phone 9599 4886.