By PEACE IJIYERA
GIPPSLAND Cancer Care Centre (GCCC) celebrated its 20th anniversary on July 31.
The centre, located at Latrobe Regional Health (LRH), was officially opened on May 17, 2006.
Since then, the centre has helped many patients and families around Gippsland in providing cancer treatment, but more importantly, providing cancer treatment close to home.
Invited to the celebrations were patients, families, staff and everyone who had been part of the centre’s journey over the two decades. Special guests included Latrobe City Mayor, Sharon Gibson, former mayor and breast cancer survivor Kellie O’Callaghan, LRH Board Chair, Andrew Way, LRH chief executive, Don McRae and former Board Chair, Professor Barry Dunstan.
Mr McRae highlighted how special it has been to be able to help patients and families access radiotherapy and chemotherapy services.
He explained that while cancer treatment is not a cause for celebration, the availability and accessibility of treatment is.
“There have been some very sad stories in the past of people in rural and remote areas of Gippsland going without, or refusing radiotherapy for their cancer because it would mean travelling to Melbourne daily, or finding somewhere to live in the city temporarily,” he said.
“Combined burdens of distance and family and the unaffordable costs made access to treatment impossible for some, and it was those significant health challenges that spurred the Gippsland community into action.”
He added that this was one of his favourite things about Gippslanders; that the locals are always ready to help.
Prof Dunstan was instrumental in advocating and rallying support for the centre. His insights into the cancer centre are particularly personal, as he unfortunately received his own cancer treatment there. Previously having to travel to Melbourne for treatment, he highlighted the convenience of having a cancer centre local to him.
“It was a 20 minute drive from home. I could park, walk in and be cared for by people who were professional, supportive and kind,” he said.
Nurse unit manager of oncology at the centre, Emily Capaldo, spoke about her experience of working in cancer care. From treating patients to celebrating wins, and helping them through the hard days, Ms Capaldo said her and her team are able to “build genuine relationships” with patients and their families. She started her career as a graduate nurse working in the oncology department, and encourages student nurses to consider that pathway.
“So we actually have graduate nurses rotate with us, so they come to us for six months in the chemotherapy unit as part of Latrobe Regional Health’s graduate nurse program,” she explained.
With the cake cut by Mr Way and Prof Dunstan, formalities were concluded and attendees were invited to have a guided tour of the centre.
Looking forward to the next 20 years, Mr McRae knows that GCCC will continue what it does best.
“We’re really proud of being able to provide the latest and greatest in cancer treatments through our clinical trials program,” he said.
“And we would like to see that research grow and develop, and we would like to be able to continue to look over the horizon and reach out to those technologies and provide them for our community as soon as possible.”
